Chapter 25
Shaurya was feeling restless as he wondered why Anokhi didn't call him. 'She was supposed to visit the dentist last night and call me today, I wonder why she hasn't called yet?? Hope all is well.'
He waited some more time wondering 'where are you Anokhi?? I am going crazy here, I haven't heard from you since yesterday. Where are you??'
It was now almost evening and Anokhi still hadn't called. Finally Shaurya gave up and thought of trying his luck and calling Anokhi in the hopes that Anokhi would pick up the phone and he would get to talk to her.
Shaurya called Anokhi but unfortunately her sister picked up the phone.
"Hello! Can I talk to Amit??" said Shaurya casually.
"Amit?? There's no Amit here, maybe you have the wrong number." Babli replied.
"Who is it Didi??" asked Anokhi.
"Wrong number" Babli said dryly.
"Oh sorry!" Shaurya heard Anokhi before hanging up.
'Hmm maybe everyone is home that's why she didn't call me. But atleast I heard her voice and she sounded fine and not in pain' Shaurya took some comfort in the fact that she didn't sound like she was in pain, nevertheless he was a bit disappointed too as he didn't get to talk to her. 'I'll have to wait for her to call me, maybe later today or tomorrow she will call me back' Shaurya thought disappointingly. 'I hope she calls me soon.'
Anokhi was also thinking about Shaurya 'He was so concerned about me, no no he was not concerned...he was freaked out actually' she giggled reminiscing their talk. 'But he must be wondering why I haven't called him today?? He told me to call him and tell what the doctor said...what to do, didi has taken a day off and I don't want to call him in front of her, she would ask me why am I telling all this to him?? What will I say to her then?? It's a question for which I have no answer. I would rather tell him that I didn't get a chance to call because I was busy or something than answering Didi's questions!!' She felt disappointed for not being able to talk to him. Plus she was also worried about his reaction when he would find out what will happen to her tooth.
'It's actually funny that I am more worried about his reaction instead of the procedure and pain I have to undergo. God help me, I don't know how I will manage tomorrow. But then again I don't really have a choice. So I might as well not worry and brace myself for it.' Then she repeated her mantra to comfort herself 'EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON, maybe something good will come out of this.' She always believed in this mantra but today she was a bit unsure. She thought 'what good can come out of this?? Well, whatever it is, hopefully one day soon I will find out. Till then I can only wait.'
Next day on phone
"Hello" said Anokhi cautiously.
'Finally she called' thought Shaurya excitedly seeing her name flashing on his mobile.
"Hi! How are you?? How's your tooth??" asked Shaurya casually, masking his excitement.
"I'm fine," said Anokhi in a low tone all scared of his upcoming reaction after knowing what she was about to tell him about her tooth.
Hearing her low tone Shaurya asked cautiously, "What did the doctor say yesterday??"
"Umm he said you took too long to come to me after losing the filling and because of that it's not possible to do the filling anymore..." explained Anokhi but before she could say anything further, Shaurya impatiently asked "So what's he going to do now??"
"Well, he said the only option left now is to...uhhh" she paused, then in very low tone she said "take the tooth out!"
"TAKE THE TOOTH OUT?? HOW??" Shaurya asked surprised.
What kind of question is this?? "Uhh by pulling it out" answered Anokhi by way of explaining.
"But...but won't that hurt you a lot?" asked Shaurya in horror.
"I guess so!" said Anokhi calmly.
"You guess so?? How are you so calm??" Shaurya asked surprised.
"Because freaking out isn't helping, I tried it all day yesterday. Plus Uncle said...I mean the doctor said I won't feel much pain when he pulls the tooth out as he will first..."
Shaurya spoke in between "Is that even possible???"
"Because he said he will first make the area numb," said Anokhi.
"What?? How will he do that??" asked Shaurya freaking out even more.
'With every passing second he is freaking out more and more and making me more nervous as well. What will he do when I tell him that it's gonna happen tonight only??' thought Anokhi.
"Anokhi!" said Shaurya, bringing Anokhi out of her thoughts.
"Yes! Yes, I mean he will give me an injection first to make the area numb" said Anokhi anticipating another shocked gasp from him.
"Injection inside the mouth??" Shaurya asked in horror.
The more he found out the more he went nuts.
"Yes! Can we please not talk about this?? I don't want to think about it, I just want to get it over with and be free" requested Anokhi.
"Oh ok sure. When do you have to go??" asked Shaurya.
"I have to be there in an hour or so" said Anokhi sulking.
"IT's GONNA HAPPEN TODAY??" Shaurya asked shocked.
"Yes" replied Anokhi softly.
Shaurya fell quiet for a few seconds, he was horrified with the information on the procedure and on top of that information he freaked out even more knowing it would happen tonight only.
"Why do you always have to go at night?? I will have to wait till tomorrow to know how you are??" said Shaurya expressing his concern. "I will have to wait for your call till tomorrow. Please do call me and tell me how you are, as soon as you can!!"
Anokhi could hear his concern in his voice. She felt guilty for worrying him.
"Okay. I will try to call as soon as possible" promised Anokhi.
"Sorry I didn't call you yesterday... I was gonna..." said Anokhi trying to take his mind off of the procedure.
"It's okay" replied Shaurya distractedly as he already knew the reason for not calling.
"It is??" asked Anokhi feeling surprised.
'He has no interest in knowing why I didn't call?? That's odd. The other day he was insisting that I call him to tell and now he isn't even asking why I didn't call him yesterday, strange!! Anyway it's good for me, I would've had to make an excuse and now I don't, but still it's kinda odd.' Anokhi wondered.
"Okay then I'll go now" said Anokhi not knowing what else to say.
"Sure! Take Care and call me as soon as possible. I wish you could tell me tonight only, after coming back but I know you need to rest after coming back so call me tomorrow, I'll be waiting. Bye, take care" said Shaurya.
"Bye" replied Anokhi and they hung up reluctantly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the clinic
"Keep this bandage pressed between your jaw till you reach home and then replace it with this new one until the bleeding stops," explained the doctor while handing the extra bandages to Anokhi.
"And yes, the numbness should wear off in an hour or so. For today, take liquids only but from tomorrow you can eat, as for drinks, you can have anything you want, no restrictions."
Anokhi nodded her head in understanding and soon left with her mother to go back home.
After reaching home Anokhi changed her bandage.
"Is it still bleeding?" asked her mother.
"Yes, but it's less now. Mumma I'm going to my room to study, will come back in half an hour and have milk" said Anokhi.
"Okay go. I will bring milk for you there only" said Rama while caressing Anokhi's head lovingly.
Anokhi gave her a smile and left.
Anokhi was sitting in her room comfortably in a warm blanket in her bed with her economics book in hand and trying to study. She tried and tried but was unable to concentrate and kept thinking about Shaurya. 'He was so worried and freaked out, I wish I could tell him right now that I am fine. Actually, he even said he wished I could tell him tonight how I was doing! But how can I call him now with everyone at home and in the same room as the phone? It's impossible. He must be worried sick though. I wanna call him and tell I am fine so at least he can sleep in peace. But HOW??'
"Here Anokhi, milk for you" said Rama as she entered her room.
As Anokhi was staring at her book and busy thinking about Shaurya she didn't realize when her mother came in the room. She looked at her all startled for a second, then she quickly took the glass from her and said "thanks Mumma."
"Good night beta, Don't stay up too long...go to bed soon" said Rama and was about to leave the room when Anokhi stopped her and asked "Are you going to bed now??"
"Yes beta, it's already 10 plus, I have to go early tomorrow. But why are you asking, you need something?? Do you still have pain??" Rama asked with concern.
"No Mumma I am fine, I was just thinking about using the internet but I'll need to disconnect the phone for that or else the dial-up gets disconnected. But if you are sleeping now then once I am done if I come inside to connect the phone again your sleep will be disturbed" explained Anokhi.
"It's okay, if you need to work..." before she could finish Anokhi interrupted and asked "Should I bring the phone here, to my room?? I will connect it here only once I am done using the net!"
"Ya okay, bring it here. But don't stay up too long, you need to rest as well and lock your door from inside or you will get cold wind in" said Rama.
"Okay Mumma" said Anokhi and then they both walked inside and Anokhi brought the phone to her room.
Anokhi kept the phone on the table and locked her door from inside.
Anokhi thinking
Okay now that I have the phone here with me, should I call him and tell I am fine and he need not to worry!! Then we can both sleep in peace. But the only problem is it's 10:25 right now, should I call him at this time?? How will he react if I call at this time?? Will he be okay with me calling him so late at night?? I want to call him and relieve him of his worry but it's so late, I feel kinda odd calling him so late. But then he also wanted me to call after coming back. He did say he wished I would call and tell tonight.
She kept pondering if she should call or not and in all the yes no yes no juggle it was getting even more late, now it was 10:40 pm.
I need to decide fast if I am gonna call right now or not. I'm losing time and it's getting even more late. What to do, what to do...ohhh what the hell I'll call him now only, if he picks up by the second bell then fine, else I'll hang up and call tomorrow.
Finally after all the contemplation Anokhi called Shaurya.
Shaurya lazily stretched his arm towards the side table near his bed to pick up his mobile from there thinking who is calling me at this hour...but as soon as he looked at the name flashing on the phone his eyes grew wider in surprise and he murmured "Anokhi, at this time??" He quickly picked up the phone and concernedly asked "Hi Anokhi!! Is everything okay?? How are you calling at this time?? How did it go at the doctor??"
"I'm sorry for calling so late, hope I am not disturbing you!" Anokhi said cautiously in a low tone.
"No it's okay! How was the doctor's visit??" Shaurya asked anxiously.
"It was okay, he took the tooth out, I am fine now" replied Anokhi.
"Why is your voice sounding odd??" asked Shaurya confusingly.
"The numbness hasn't completely worn off yet, that's why" mumbled Anokhi.
"Oh did it hurt badly??" asked Shaurya sadly.
Anokhi smiled hearing his concern and replied "Yes it did but don't worry so much, I am fine."
"Are you sure you are okay??" Shaurya asked again to confirm.
"Yeees I am fine" repeated Anokhi.
"Okay good" replied Shaurya feeling relieved. "I am just surprised at your calmness, I am scared even thinking about the whole procedure whereas you, even after going through the whole thing you are so calm. How??"
"It doesn't matter if I am calm or freaked out, I still have to go through it so what's the point in freaking out."
"Hmm you do have a point! Waise...Not that I am complaining, but how come you are calling me so late?? I thought you'd call me tomorrow!!" asked Shaurya curiously.
"Ohhh, you were so worried about me so I thought I'll tell you now, this way you won't have to wait till tomorrow" explained Anokhi.
"Ohhh okay. So you were worried about me!!" Shaurya said feeling astonished. "Hmmm" said Shaurya thinking deeply.
'Ohhh what's he thinking?? Did I do the right thing by calling him at this time??' wondered Anokhi.
"Anokhi where is everyone?? Is nobody home?? Are you alone at home??" Shaurya asked curiously.
"Uhh no everyone is home. They are inside" told Anokhi cautiously.
'Where's he going with this?? Why is he asking me all these questions??' Anokhi wondered to herself.
"Inside?? Where are you?? Which room are you in??" asked Shaurya confusingly.
"I am outside, in the same room where we do tuition class" replied Anokhi.
"Ohhh okay" suddenly realizing something Shaurya smirked and asked "Why is the phone here with you?? Isn't it usually inside??"
"Yes you are right, usually it's inside but sometimes when I need to use the internet at night I bring it here and after using the net I connect it here since everyone is asleep by the time I am done. Since the speed of dialup is good at night I use it at night mostly" explained Anokhi. "And because you were so worried I thought I'd call you before connecting the net."
"Are you alone in the room?" Shaurya excitedly asked.
"Yes, I study every night so I sleep here alone...this way I don't disturb anyone" replied Anokhi casually.
"So nobody can hear you right now??" asked Shaurya.
"Uhh no, but why are you asking all these questions??" Anokhi asked, confused.
"No particular reason," replied Shaurya mysteriously.
"O-kay '' said Anokhi thinking 'what's he thinking and why is he asking so many questions?? What's he up to?? Now what do I say?? Should I hang up??'
'Should I ask her how she feels about me now?? She is alone and no one will disturb us. I didn't wanna do it over the phone, I would rather do it face to face but I'm not sure if I would ever get a chance to do it face to face so might as well use this opportunity today, I may not get another chance' thought Shaurya.
Both were silent as both were busy thinking.
"Anokhi what were you girls discussing the other day when I came and you all stopped talking suddenly seeing me?" questioned Shaurya out of the blue.
"Uhhh nnnothing!" stuttered Anokhi. 'Where did this question come from suddenly??'
"Really?? The way you all fell quiet it seemed like you were talking about me, actually I'm pretty sure you were...weren't you??" asked Shaurya quickly trapping Anokhi and making her tell.
"Ohhh we uhhh were uhhh" think fast Anokhi "yeah, we were just discussing once you go to US what will we do?? I mean if we have any questions who will we ask??" replied Anokhi.
"Ohhh, there are other teachers in school, plus you can email me as well" said Shaurya casually.
"You will reply to our emails??" asked Anokhi with wide eyes.
"Yes, why not?? Why are you so surprised??" he replied instantly with a little disappointed tone.
"Won't you be busy?? I mean would you have time for us?? Will you even remember us??" she asked nervously, masking her sorrow.
"What?? Why wouldn't I remember you?? I can never forget you Anokhi!!" Shaurya took the opportunity and replied openly in a thick tone.
Anokhi smiled widely hearing his statement 'I can never forget you Anokhi'. She felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Really??? You will remember me?? Will you stay in touch with me??" asked Anokhi excitingly.
"Of course I will." Shaurya smirked hearing the excitement in her tone. "I will miss you." said Shaurya without realizing. Though he realized what he said, as soon as the words left his mouth. 'Oh no...Did I just say that outloud??'
"You will miss me?? Really??" asked Anokhi in surprise.
"Yes I will miss you a lot. More than you can ever imagine. Will you miss me??" Shaurya replied honestly.
"Yes I'll miss you too. Why don't you call me there (USA) then??? We will both be there and then we won't miss each other."
"Call you there?? What do you mean, I don't understand?" Shaurya replied confusingly.
"I mean you can find a job for me there as well??"
"A job?? You wanna work there??"
"Yes, why not??"
"You can't work there!"
"Why not??"
"I mean you can but your family won't send you there by yourself. So far away from them."
"Why not?? Of course they will. If I get a good job they definitely will send me."
"I don't think so!"
"Why??"
"Nobody sends their kids to another country alone."
"Why not?? Yours is sending you."
"Yes, but that's different."
"Why is it different??"
"Because I'm a guy."
"What?? You think because I'm a girl my family won't send me??"
"I haven't seen anyone sending their daughter alone. The only way I have seen people sending their daughters is after marriage."
"That's not true and my family will send me for work, I know."
"I doubt it."
"What?? Why?? Of course they will send me, you don't know them... I do. I know my family better than you. They will send me." Said Anokhi forcefully.
"I still doubt it."
"Uff you just find a job for me...I will manage the rest." She paused, thought something and then continued "wait a minute, are you making an excuse because you don't want to find a job for me??"
"What?? No, I truly think your family won't send you without marriage."
"Yes they will." said Anokhi with conviction.
"I have an idea. Why don't I find a guy for you there, you can get married to him and then come there."
This made Anokhi mad, really mad.
She replied angrily "What??? No!!! Thank you very much. I don't want to get married just to go there, that's such a ridiculous idea."
'He is crazy, I love him and he wants to find someone else for me to get married to?' She shook her head in frustration at his ridiculous idea.
"No really...I am not kidding, I'll find someone good for you!! Tell me what kind of a guy you want??" He asked in an impassive tone, effectively hiding his curiosity to hear her reply.
"What?? I don't want anyone." Anokhi replied feeling annoyed, she sounded much more harsher than she intended to. Her sound was clearly showing the pain of someone pinching her raw nerve.
Her grouchy tone satisfied Shaurya. He smirked hearing her answer, it was exactly what he wanted to hear. "Why not??" asked Shaurya amused.
"I don't know, I never thought about it. And I don't want to marry someone I don't even know." she replied dryly. Even though she tried to mask her frustration she failed miserably. She sounded very annoyed and angry.
"Why? You don't trust me??" He asked in a deadly calm tone.
Hearing his calm tone...Anokhi replied politely in a frigid tone "Yes I do but..."
"But what?? You don't trust my choice?? You don't think I can find someone you will like??" He continued with his cross questioning to pave the path towards his desired answer.
At last, Anokhi gave up and responded to him clearly "Nothing like that, I just don't want to marry someone I don't even know and that too just so I can come to you...I mean to USA."
"But it will be someone I know." Shaurya provoked her suppressed anger with one more question.
"Enough Sir...I don't want you to pick a guy for me." She sounded deadly annoyed. His questions were giving her heartache...after a short pause she continued with a harsh tone "Why are we even discussing my marriage... I wanted you to find a job for me and if you can't then fine but let me tell you something I will not marry someone, unless I know him very well."
Anokhi was really not liking this marriage conversation. 'He is nuts, he wants to find a guy for me... I would have thought about marriage if he was talking about himself but he is trying to set me up with someone else. Could he be any more further away from reality??'
Shaurya was enjoying these reactions from her. He was taking her towards the direction of his final question.
"So you don't want to marry someone you don't know??"
"Ohhh...god...can you please drop this topic?? I don't want to discuss this" Anokhi said in irritation.
"No, tell me! You only want to marry someone you know??" Shaurya pushed her patience till the edge. He was twisting and turning his words to find out what was in her mind.
"I suppose that would be the first requirement!!!!!" She was so angry and annoyed without thinking she quickly replied in a stern and harsh tone. Anokhi forgot for a minute she was talking to her sir.
"Hmmm, well you know me...WILL YOU MARRY ME??" asked Shaurya quickly and closed his eyes fearing her answer. His heart skipped a few beats.
"YES I WILL" replied Anokhi in the flow without realizing.
Play the song in the background and enjoy 😊
Ho maine dil diya dil diya dil diya ghabra ke O sathiya
(I gave my heart with fear, my love)
As soon as Shaurya heard Anokhi's answer his eyes flew open in shock and excitement. "What?? What did you say??" Shaurya asked, as he couldn't believe his ears. 'Did she really say YES or am I imagining this?? Oh My God She said YES!!! WOW WOW OH MY GOD OH MY GOD.'
Ho toone dil liya dil liya dil liya tadpa ke O sathiya
(You took my heart after tormenting me, my love)
As the realization of what she just said hit her, Anokhi covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide open in shock. 'Oh My God what have I said?? Why is he so quiet?? Why isn't he saying anything?? Is he mad at me?? Oh no… oh God. No no no, Wait a minute, HE asked ME if I wanna marry him? I didn't say anything...I only said YES.'
Both were busy analyzing the situation silently in their own ways.
"Anokhi do you know what you just said??" Shaurya asked calmly, barely containing his happiness.
"Uhhh do you know what you just said??" asked Anokhi nervously.
"Yes of course I do, I have been wanting to ask you this for a very long time now" replied Shaurya confidently.
Milne ko to pehle bhi hum milte the aksar yahan
(We use to meet here frequently)
Jo aaj hai saanson mein thi kal tak ye khushboo kahan?
(But what we feel today we didn't feel until yesterday)
"You have?? Really??" said Anokhi feeling astonished and excited. "Wait, is this really happening? You...you really asked me right... I am not dreaming this, am I??" asked Anokhi as she still couldn't believe it.
Shaurya smiled at her antics and replied "Yes I did ask, you are definitely not dreaming. I can't believe I finally said it and what's even more unbelievable is that you said YES!"
Ho gul khil gaya khil gaya khil gaya kahan aake O sathiya
(Flowers have blossomed, look my love)
Hearing this Anokhi had tears in her eyes "I never, not even in my wildest dreams thought that this day would come. I I..." Anokhi couldn't complete what she wanted to say, she wiped her tears and continued "I thought you would go to the USA and forget me and I'd...I'd never see you again."
"Don't cry Anokhi, please! I can't bear tears in your eyes. I am yours, only yours and you will never lose me" Shaurya said reassuringly.
"Really??" Anokhi asked, still astonished.
"Yes, I wish I was there with you right now to wipe your tears." He felt helpless.
"You really want to marry ME??" asked Anokhi, still unable to believe.
"Yes" Shaurya replied happily.
"Why??" Anokhi asked curiously.
"Because I love you!!" Shaurya confessed simply.
Har pal mere dil mein hai tu ab main kahin bhi rahuin
Kehna to main chahuin magar tujhse ye kaise kahuin
(Now you are in my heart every second, no matter where I am
I want to tell you this but I don't know how)
Anokhi gasped hearing his answer. 'HE LOVES ME' she repeated in her mind.
"Why did you say Yes??" Shaurya asked mischievously.
Kya mil gaya mil gaya mil gaya tujhe pa ke O sathiya
(Oh what have I gotten after getting you my love)
Anokhi felt shy, she didn't say anything and just stayed quiet.
"Anokhi" called Shaurya after waiting and not getting an answer from her.
"Hmmm" murmured Anokhi in a low tone.
"Anokhi" Shaurya called again.
"Hmmm" whispered Anokhi again.
Ho toone dil liya dil liya tadpake O sathiya
(You took my heart after tormenting me, my love)
Jo bhi hua acha hua ye raaze dil khul gaya
(Whatever happened is good, the secret of the heart is out)
Dil ki nayi raahon mein ye kya humsafar mil gaya
(On the path of heart we found partners)
Gaya dil gaya khul gaya mil gaya takrake O sathiya
(My heart is gone, it's gone my love)
Ho maine dil diya dil diya ghabrake O sathiya
(I gave my heart with fear, my love)
Ho toone dil liya dil liya tadpake O sathiya
(You took my heart after tormenting me, my love)
"Say something Anokhi" Shaurya was getting impatient. "I want your answer, talk to me, please."
"Hmmm" whispered Anokhi shyly.
"Arre, You won't talk to me now?? Say something na" implored Shaurya, amused by her behavior. Shaurya couldn't believe it. He wished they were face to face, he wanted to hug her, feel her close to him, hold her in his arms.
Anokhi just stayed quiet and smiled happily. She couldn’t believe how much their equation had changed suddenly. She was ecstatic. She was feeling so shy that she couldn't speak.
******************************
All those who were eagerly waiting for the confession, here it is. FINALLY!!!
I hope you all enjoyed reading it and it was up to you expectations 🤞🤞
Do share your thoughts please.
Love Preet ♥️
@Mira Now I want the Prize/Bribe 🤣🤣
Chapter 26 👇
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