Twist of Fate
Part 5
It's been 10 minutes in the car ride and no one has said anything.
Shaurya was stealing glances from the corners of his eyes, and the silence bothered him.
Her silky hair caressed his cheek. He turned to face her, but she was looking outside the window.
The window on her side was open and cool breeze was blowing.
"Miss Bhalla toh bilkul chup hain... Maine zyaada gusse se baat ki thi kya ? ... Ughhh.... Pta nhi mujhe itna gussa kyu aata hain... Anokhi ke birthday par bhi use daant diya maine... Ab main kya karu ?...", he pondered.
Anokhi was lost in thought, gazing out the window.
She recollected the whole day : her invitation to the dinner, Babli Di's surprise appearance, the celebrations, her favourite vanilla-flavored cake, and everyone's blessings.
She was thinking about how cold she had been with Shaurya up to this point.
She felt miserable that nobody did so much for her till day and he just being her teacher, had gone to such extent only to bring a smile on her face and she on the other hand, had acted aloof during departure from Shaan's flat.
Now the silence was getting on Shaurya'a nerve. To evade the awkward silence, he thought of teasing Anokhi.
"Miss Bhalla..."
"Lagta hain tum mujhse naaraaz ho..."
Anokhi turned to face him, and seeing her sad expression didn't sit well with him.
"Main kyun naaraaz hungi aapse... Aapne thodina kuch kiya ?..."
He felt relieved that she had spoken up.
"Mujhe lga maine tumhe koi gift nhi diya... isiliye tum mujhse baat hi nhi kar rhi... nhi toh itni chup-chaap kaisi baithi ho tum itni der tak..."
When she heard this, she immediately turned her face towards the window, and the silence reigned inside once more.
"Arre... Anokhi toh firse chup ho gayi...", he wondered.
As he turned his face towards Anokhi to say something, he noticed something that caused him to jerk the car to a halt.
Anokhi gave him a startled look as the car abruptly came to a standstill.
"Anokhi..."
"Ro... ro kyu rhi ho tum ?..."
This is when she realized her eyes had begun to water.
"Maine kuch kiya kya ?... Lekin maine toh abhi kuch bhi nhi kiya...", Shuarya stated innocently.
Anokhi averted her gaze and remained silent.
She stared at nothing in particular for a while before sniffing and gradually breaking down in tears.
Shaurys became terrified when he saw her in that state.
Was it his rage that caused her to cry?
He mentally scolded himself for doing so.
"Hey !... "
"Anokhi... "
"Kya hua... "
"Please btao na mujhe..."
"Main... maine... meri vajah se ro rhi ho..."
He, too, was moved to tears.
Anokhi only nodded in a no and continued crying.
Shaurya was upset to see it, and he felt helpless at the time.
Anokhi tried valiantly to keep her tears at bay, but it was in vain. She was gasping for breath.
Shaurya was becoming restless, and all he wanted to do was pull her into his embrace and comfort her.
He moved his hand hesitantly towards her face, brushing away a tear before it fell.
When she felt his touch, she turned to face him and saw him nodding in a no.
"Anokhi..."
"Please..."
"Btao... kya hua hain..."
"Please aise mat ro...", he said softly.
She couldn't take it any longer and finally revealed what was causing her tears.
"M... mere liye... mere liye... isse pehle... kisine... kisine itna kuch nhi kiya..."
"Aapne mere liye itna sab kuch kiya... aur maine... maine aapke saath bohot bura behave kiya..."
"Maine aate vakt bhi aap... aapse achche se baat nhi ki... aap toh meri safety ke liye mujhe drop karne aaye hain... "
"Maine... maine aapko... aapko bohot hurt kiya na Shaurya sir..."
Shuarya was silently listening to everything, how innocently she said each line between her sobs, he just wanted to pull her into a tight hug and let his heart cry out.
"Boliye na Shuarya sir..."
"Aapne mujhse kyu chhupaayi yeh baat..."
Now Shaurya got alarmed.
"K... kaunsi baat ?"
"Yahi ki yeh poora plan aapka tha Shaurya sir... Aap hi ne mere birthday ko special bnane ke liye yeh sab kiya... Toh fir mujhse yeh baat chhupaayi kyun ?... Btaaiye..."
Shaurya stared at her, stunned, but then lowered his gaze.
"Aap yahi soch rhe hain... ki... ki mujhe yeh baat kaise pta chali..."
"Babli Di ne btaya mujhe..."
Shaurya immediately averted his gaze. He was astounded that she was aware of it.
"Itna sab kuch kiya mere liye... Mujhe pta lagne bhi nhi diya kuch... Sabhi ko mujhe btaane se bhi mana kiya hua tha... Aur mere liye itna sab kuch karne ke baad bhi... aap... aap keh rhe ho aapne mujhe koi gift nhi diya... "
"Aapko pta bhi hain Shaurya sir... mera birthday isse pehle kabhi iss tarah se nhi mnaaya gaya... aaj ka din mere liye bohot yaadgaar hain... Aur iske peeche reason toh aap hai..."
"Lekin aapko dekho... aap apne efforts ko kaise nakaar rhe ho ab tak ..."
"Btaaiye Shaurya sir... aapne... aapne aisa kyu kiya... Kyu mujhe pta nhi lagne dena chaahte the yeh baat ?...", now her sobs, her guilt had turned into obvious questions.
She was feeling bad as to why he was behaving like an outsider till now.
Shaurya slowly turned his face away.
"Aapko meri baat ka javaab dena hoga..."
"Main car se nhi utrungi jab tak aap mujhe javaab nhi dete..."
"Pehle tum mere savaal ka javaab do Miss Bhalla..."
Anokhi's expression changed into confused one.
"Tum itne dino se mujhe avoid kyu kar rhi thi ?... Itne dino se mujhse door bhaagne ki koshish kyu kar rhi thi ?..."
"Bolo..."
"Javaab do mujhe..."
This time he looked directly into her eyes.
Anokhi found herself entangled in her own web.
What was she going to say to him now?
The sense of guilt had returned to her.
"Aap... aap baat ghuma rhe ho Shaurya sir..."
"Tum bhi vhi kar rhi ho...", he snapped back.
Heaving a sigh, he turned to her.
"Anokhi..."
"I am... I'm... I'm really really sorry..."
Anokhi looked at him shocked.
Why was he apologizing ???
"Tum mujhse abhi bhi vo library vale incident ke liye naaraaz hona..."
"Maine tumhe uss din... c... cha...", he felt disgusted on his own self.
"I'm so sorry Anokhi..."
"Please Anokhi..."
"Us din ke liye mujhe maaf kar do... aisa fir kabhi dobaara nhi hoga..."
"I promise..."
"Lekin please tum... tum aise mujhe ignore mat karo... mujhe aisa lagta hain ki main... main jaise koi bohot bura insaan hoon... Mera nature bohot ghatiya hain ki tum mujhse baat bhi nhi karna chaahti... tumhe... tumhe mujh par bharosa nhi hain ki aisa main fir kabhi dobaara nhi karunga..."
Anokhi's eyes welled up with tears as she heard his internal conflict.
He had been thinking of himself in such a low light just because of her behavior. But the real reason for her ignorance had nothing to do with what he was thinking. It was something else entirely.
She had had enough and the next moment, she collapsed into his arms, sobbing.
Shaurya was taken aback for a moment. But as soon as he heard her sobs, he became tense.
"Anokhi !..."
"Anokhi !..."
"Kya hua...", he stroked her back.
"Sorry... maine tumhe voh din firse yaad dila diya..."
"Lekin believe me Anokhi... main aisa dobaara kabhi nhi karunga... kisi ke saath bhi nhi... pkka..."
"Please... I'm sorry..."
"Mujhse baat to karo... Mujhe daanto... Mujh par gussa karo... par please mujh se door jaane ki koshish mat kiya karo...", he tightened his hold on her but securely.
He finally let go of the tears he had been holding back for so long.
"Shaurya sir !... "
"Aur kitna sorry bolenge aap ???..."
"Bas ab bohot hua..."
"Ab aap chup ho jaaiye... Nhi toh main sach mein aap par gussa karungi...", she looked up with teary eyes.
He was relieved that she had finally said something. With his thumb, he gently wiped her tears away.
But Anokhi buried her face in his chest again and said in that position, "Aap... aap galat soch rhe hain Shaurya sir... Main aapko... aapko us vajah se ignore nhi kar rhi thi..."
Shuarya was perplexed, and he looked at her tiny frame in his embrace.
He didn't pull away because they were both finding comfort in each other's arms.
"Toh fir tum btao Anokhi..."
"Kya baat thi jis vajah se tum mujh se baat nhi kar rhi thi...", he fondled her hair.
"Main... main... voh... us din...", she was trying to say something between hiccups.
He sensed that something was disturbing her.
"Bolo Anokhi..."
"Main... main sun rha hoon..."
She slowly drew back from his embrace and did something that completely melted Shaurya's heart.
She wiped her tears and held her ears like a child, and then said with so much innocence, "Sorry Shaurya sir..."
"Hey !... Tum... tum sorry kyu bol rhi ho...", he immediately took her hands in his.
"Mujh se galti hui thi... mujhe sorry maangne deejiye please...", she was back in that position.
Her small red nose due to crying, pouted lips, and hands on her ears made her look adorably cute.
"Achcha achaha..."
"Lekin mujhe btao toh... Sorry kis liye bol rhi ho... Tumne toh kuch bhi nhi kiya...", he slowly held her hands.
"Kyunki maine us din... jis din dange hue the... us din aapki baat bina sune hi aapko daant diya tha... aur aapki side ki story bina jaane hi aapko Aastha... Aastha mam se maafi maangne ke liye bhi bola tha..."
"Mujhe ACP Ahir ne btaaya tha... ki voh aap the jo mujhe hospital leke aaye the... ACP Ahir ke jeep mein..."
Shaurya was astonished for a moment that she had known about this.
"Ohh... toh... toh yeh baat hain..."
He recalled her accusation that he had abandoned her there alone. It had hurt him, but he had long forgotten about it.
Anokhi looked at him, and based on his expression, she could tell he was hurt by what she'd done.
"Shaurya sir..."
"Please mujhe maaf kar deejiye us din ke liye..."
"Meri jaan bachaane ke liye bohot bohot shukriya... main aapko kabhi thank you bol hi nhi paayi us din ke baad..."
"Hmmm...", he only responded with this.
"Aap... aap gussa hona mujhse uss vajah se..."
"Mujhe pta hain Shuarya sir... maine galat kiya tha uss din... bohot galat..."
"Mera koi hak nhi hain aapki personal life mein main aise interfere karu..."
"Uss din mujhse galti ho gayi thi Shaurya sir..."
"Lekin dobaara kabhi nhi karungi aise... Please..."
Shaurya was upset this time when she said she had no right to interfere in his personal life. It felt as if she didn't matter in his life.
"Anokhi..."
"Us din jo bhi hua tha... main bhool chuka hoon sab..."
"Tumhara reaction normal tha... tumhaari jagah koi bhi hota toh voh aise hi karta... Uske liye tumhe sorry feel karne ki koi zaroorat nhi hain..."
"Iska matlab aapne mujhe maaf kar diya Shaurya sir ?...", her lips curved into a small smile.
But it was short-lived because the next moment he replied, "Nhi..."
"Toh fir ?...", she sulked.
Shaurya smiled slightly seeing it.
"Pehle tum mujhe btao... tumne mujhe maaf kiya hain yaa nhi..."
"Tum... tum vo library incident..."
"Shaurya sir...", she placed her palm over his.
"Aapne mujhse uss din bridge par promise kiya tha na... ki aap dobaara aisa kabhi nhi karenge..."
"Maine usi din aapko maaf kar diya tha... Sach mein Shaurya sir..."
"Itne dino se main... maine aapko avoid kiya uska reason sirf vhi tha jo maine aapko... aapko abhi btaaya..."
"Vo library vale incident ko main bhool chuki hoon..."
"Please ab aap mujhe promise keejiye ki aap apne baare mein aisa nhi sochenge...", she moved her left hand forward.
"Kaisa nhi sochunga ?..."
"Yahi ki aapki nature achchhi nhi hain... ya mujhe aap par bharosa nhi hain yeh sab..."
"Promise keejiye... aap apne baare mein aisa kuch bhi nhi sochenge... aap apne aap ko aise neecha karke nhi dekhenge..."
Shaurya smiled witnessing that she had faith in him. He felt happy that his thoughts about his own self mattered to her.
"Promise...", he placed his hand over hers, and she returned the display of affection with a broad smile.
"Tum bhi promise karo... Tum mujhse door jaane ki koshish nhi karogi... mujhe avoid nhi karogi... Aur job hi hua tha uske liye guilty feel bhi nhi karogi...", he extended his right hand.
"Promise...", she placed her right hand over his.
"Par aapne mujhe abhi tak btaaya nhi Shaurya sir..."
"Kya ?... Kya nhi btaaya ?..."
"Yhi ki aapne yeh birthday vaala plan mujhse kyu chhupaaya..."
Now Shaurya started thinking what he will answer now. He himself didn't know the answer.
"Voh... bas aise hi... Tumhe surprise dena chahhta tha... toh isiliye... aur kuch nhi...", he said each word hesitantly, wondering if she would believe him.
To his fortune, she didn't say anything and believed him.
Passing her bright smile, she replied, "Thank you so much Shaurya sir..."
"Aapko andaaza bhi nhi hain main kitni khush hoon aaj..."
"Yeh bestest birthday tha mera..."
Their hands were still clasped together, and they had no idea that it was a symbol of their deep bond within their hearts.
Shaurya noticed the dried tear on her cheek and reached out to wipe it away. As soon as his thumb touched her cheek, it warmed up.
They both shared an eye lock.
Shaurya was mesmerized by the sight of her long eyelashes drooping, followed by a rosy blush on her cheeks once more. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
However, they were both startled awake when they heard a loud thunderous roar.
The next moment, Anokhi clutched onto him tightly and squeezed her eyes shut in terror.
Shaurya was so surprised that she sought refuge in him in time of fear. She indirectly expressed her faith in him by doing so.
He consoled her.
"Anokhi..."
"Sab theek hain..."
"Main hoon na..."
Anokhi realized her position and immediately pulled back in embarrassment. She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, not meeting his gaze.
"S... sorry... voh mujhe lightening se darr lagta hain... toh... isliye... main... please... aap...", she stammered.
"It's okay...", he replied in a calm tone.
"Tumhaara gussa khud bijli se kam thodina hai... tumhe toh dar lagna nhi chaahiye vaise..."
When their gazes collided, they burst out into a fit of laughter.
After few moment of laughing their heart out, Shaurya asked, "Toh..."
"Ab chalein madam ?..."
Shaurya raised his eyebrows and Anokhi realized they had spent a lot of time in the road midway.
"Jee sir... pooch kya rhe hain... Jaldi chaliye...", she rushed.
"Jo aagya aakaa...", he said humorously.
They both laughed again, and he started the engine.
The rain had begun to fall, and Anokhi was having fun with the small droplets as well as the cool night breeze on her face.
Shaurya's window was also open, and he too was enjoying the cold wind.
They were both feeling incredibly light-hearted after today's heart-to-heart conversation.
Everything was back to normal between them, which gave them great pleasure.
Shaurya was too happy and thought to listen to some music to enhance the mood.
He turned on the stereo, and the music began, followed by the lyrics.
Saanson ko saanson mein dhalne do zara
Dheemi si dhadkan ko badhne do zara
Lamho ki guzaarish hai yeh
Paas aa jaaye
Hum... Hum Tum...
Tum... Hum Tum...
As soon as the lyrics reached their ears, both the people in the car felt their hearts flutter.
Their hearts thudded against their chests, and they felt their cheeks rise up.
Aankhon mein humko utarne do zara
Baahon mein humko pighalne do zara
Lamho ki guzaarish hai yeh
Paas aa jaaye
Hum... Hum Tum...
Tum... Hum Tum...
Listening to the second line, Anokhi remembered falling into his arms when she broke down and how he had comforted her.
Shaurya too remembered how she had buried her face in his chest on hearing the lightening bolt. He was feeling very content that she had come to his embrace to seek safe shelter.
In that situation, the rainy weather was the cherry on top.
With the tapping sound of rain outside, they were both enjoying the music.
It was as if they'd gotten lost in a fantasy land.
Saanson ko saanson mein dhalne do zara
Baahon mein humko pighalne do zara
Lamho ki guzaarish hai yeh
Paas aa jaaye
Hum... hum tum ...
Tum... hum tum ...
The song had ended, and there was now complete silence inside the car, but their hearts were still racing.
Shaurya had turned the stereo off and was absorbing his feelings.
Both individuals were experiencing those inexplicable feelings within them.
But the strange feelings didn't irritate them this time, nor did they make them wonder why they were happening; instead, they were enjoying them.
They were simply relishing the present moment.
SOMETHING SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING INSIDE THEM.
Their bodies were churning with butterflies.
"HUM TUM", these words were resonating in their ears and a shy smile was playing on their lips unknown to both of them.
Soon, they reached the girl's hostel and Shaurya pressed the brake.
They exchanged glances as they turned their heads towards each other.
Rain had also stopped falling at that point.
"Good night Anokhi..."
"And once again..."
"Happy Birthday to you...", he said with a soothing voice and flashed a big smile.
Anokhi was simply staring at him, silent.
Before Shaurya could react, he felt a soft touch on his left cheek.
That occured in such a split second that he didn't realize what had just happened until he saw Anokhi spring out of the car at the speed of light and running away. In so much hurry, her hand had slammed against the stereo button.
A song began with its melody.
Shuarya sat there motionless, his left hand resting on the spot where she had kissed him.
Chaahe tum kuch naa kaho
Maine sun liya
Ki saathi pyaar ka mujhe chun liya
Chun liya
Maine Sun liya...
He felt his heart flutter as he tried to recall the sensation of that feathery touch on his face. With each passing second, his cheeks were rising up.
Pehla nasha
Pehla khumaar
Naya pyaar hai naya intezaar
Kar loon main kya apna haal
Aye dil-e-bekaraar
Mere dil-e-bekaraar
Tu hi bata
Pehla nasha
Pehla khumaar...
These were the tunes that were coming out of the stereo at that moment and all he could do was hide his red face in his palm because he was too shy to show his face even to the car's rear view mirror.
"Yeh... yeh... abhi kya hua..."
He nudged against the steering wheel, his face buried in his palm, grinning like a shy child.
"Birthday toh uska tha..."
"Aur gift mujhe mil gaya..."
These were the only words that came out of his mouth, along with a shy smile.
Anokhi, on the other hand, was frantically running, her heart racing so fast that she thought she might pass out at any moment.
She stepped inside the room, shut the door behind her, and leaned against it, her face buried in her palms.
Her face was flushed with crimson shade as she remembered what she did few moments back.
She had no idea, how she was going to face HIM at college the next day, after the stunt she pulled today.
Whatever she had done was a medium through which she expressed her gratitude, thankfulness and fondness to him.
Despite the fact that both individuals were present at a distance, their hearts were in the same place.
Their lips were constantly playing with a shy smile.
Shaurya was still immersed in his imagination of that soft feathery touch, and Anokhi was sitting against the door, burying her blushy face in her palms.
They were simply living in that moment, remembering the sweet gesture that had occurred between them just moments before.
They had no idea what was about to unfold next.
Whatever comes their way, they'll go through it together.
Whatever lies ahead for them, they will face it together.
Shaurya smiled as he rose from his seat and gazed out the window at the moon, which was shining brightly after the rain.
In the moon, he saw the face of a woman.
The woman who had turned his life upside down but, for the better.
The woman, who had marked her entry in his life, but IN THE MOST UNPRECEDENTED TWIST OF FATE...
THE END...
•◆•
There lived two soulmates,
They were unaware of the twist of fate.
Though they were polar opposite,
But their hearts had given each other clean chit...
•◆•
Hope you all enjoyed their journey of their unnamed feelings.
Thank you for reading
⁓ Thank you rits_m for suggesting the plot of the story 
⁓
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