Posted:
Originally posted by: Manju1066
Awesome loved it .looking forward to the next chapter.💕💕
Thanks. Keep reading. Hope you will enjoy the story.
Originally posted by: Manju1066
Awesome loved it .looking forward to the next chapter.💕💕
Thanks. Keep reading. Hope you will enjoy the story.
Chapter 6
“Mmm..I must say Shaan, I never knew you were this good. This chhole kulche surpasses the one in our menu by a mile.” Tej said, tearing another portion of his kulcha and dipping it in the bowl of chhole.
“Thank you Bhaisahab, I knew you would fall in love with it. But the entire credit for this recipe goes to Aastha.” Shaan said.
“Who is Aastha?” Tej asked.
“Aastha Kashyap. She runs a small eatery in sector 35.”
“Are you talking about Kashyap’s cafe?” Tej asked.
“Why yes Bhaisahab? Have you heard about them?” Shaan was surprised.
“Yes, they have garnered quite a bit of popularity within a few months. As businessmen, we must keep an eye on our potential rivals. At first I thought people were flocking there as they wanted to check out a new place and the craze would soon die down. But after tasting this and hearing their praise from you I am starting to believe they are here to stay.”
“Of course. Aastha doesn’t make food, she makes art. I think she knows some kind of magic. She can even make your everyday food taste ten times as good. And if you see how she improvises on every recipe, you will also become her fan like me.”
“Is it? Then I am afraid this is not good news for us.” Tej remarked thoughtfully.
“You are right Bhaisahab, I have also heard about them. A very small restaurant but they are doing great business. And they specialize in North Indian food, just like us. Now that they have made our picky Shaan Bhaisahab a fan, I am sure they will very soon overtake us.”
“We cannot let that happen. Sabharwal kitchen has been the most sought after destination for food lovers of the city and we will continue to be so. A petty roadside cafe cannot compete with us.” Tej said, gritting his teeth.
“If you want, I can use my contacts and force them to close.” Alok suggested.
“Don’t listen to him Bhaisahab. He always has useless ideas. I don’t think they are trying to overtake us. Aastha wouldn’t have taught me her recipes in that case.” Shaan reasoned.
“Don’t worry Shaan. I also don’t believe in using force when we can get the job done with a bit of diplomacy. You were singing praises of this girl’s special talent. Why not find a way to use her talent to our advantage?”
“Are you planning on appointing her as a chef in Sabharwal kitchen? But Bauji never wanted us to appoint women as chefs. They are very unreliable. They refuse to work extra hours, need maternity leave and what not.” Alok pointed out.
“Alok, I can assure you that even if we want she would not agree to join us as a chef. From what I have seen of her, she is a very independent woman. She will never agree to work under someone because she is an artist. She will not be able to work under our strict rules and regulations. They will suffocate her.”
“You seem to understand her quite well. Tell me Shaan, are you having some feelings for her? I mean what you boys these days call love and all that.” Tej asked.
“No, it’s nothing like that. I was just saying that we should allow them to run their restaurant and we will do ours. Competition is always good. Isn’t it?
“This is not how you do business, Shaan. You are too soft at heart. To succeed in business we have to be merciless, cutthroat. Not only that, we have to make some sacrifices from our side as well. And this time, Shaan, our business demands a sacrifice from you.”
“Sacrifice?”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
It was Shaurya’s second day as a student at KICAS. On his way to class, he saw Shagun talking with a man in a police uniform.
Shaurya thought to himself, “Did she call the police to investigate her missing pen? Shut up Shaurya Sabharwal, don’t be so stupid. It was not a diamond studded pen that she will report to the police. Then why is she looking in your direction? Now both of them are walking towards you. Stay calm, Shaurya. Act cool.”
“Hello Shaurya. Meet my fiance, ACP Ahir Chhatwal. And Ahir, this is Shaurya Sabharwal.” Shagun introduced the men to each other.
Shaurya gave a sheepish smile and extended his right hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mr, Chhatwal.”
Ahir took his hand and held it in a firm grip. “Pleasure is all mine, Mr. Sabharwal. Please call me Ahir.”
“Sure Ahir, and you must call me Shaurya.”
“I think I should leave now. Your class is about to begin. All the best.” Ahir wished them both and left.
“So you are engaged. My first disappointment of the day.” Shaurya said, making a sad face.
Shagun laughed, “Don’t worry, I am pretty sure you will find that special someone here in this institute.” Shagun said, as they walked inside the classroom
Shaurya took out Shagun’s pen and said apologetically, “I am very sorry but I didn’t bring a pen yesterday so had to steal it from your bag. I wanted to return it to you right after class but you left pretty early.”
“Oh, it's okay Shaurya. You didn’t have to return it. Yes, I had to leave early due to some urgent work in my college yesterday.”
Their conversation was interrupted by Anokhi entering the classroom.
“Today’s class will also be a theoretical class. We will study Punjabi cuisine in a historical context. Anokhi then turned towards the board and started writing something.
Seeing it as a chance to finish the conversation, Shaurya asked Shagun in a low voice, “So you are a student. May I ask which college you are studying in?”
“Oh no. I am not a student. I am an assistant professor of Economics. My lectures are mostly in the second half so it was convenient for me to join the morning classes here.”
Shaurya raised his eyebrows, “Seriously? That’s interesting. Student in the morning, teacher in afternoon.”
Both of them laughed aloud.
“Mr. Sabharwal and Miss Kapoor, would you care to share the joke with the rest of us so that we can laugh together?” Anokhi said, clearly miffed.
“I am so sorry. We will not disturb again. Please continue, Mam.” Shagun said.
“Don’t you have anything to say, Mr. Sabharwal?”
“No.”
“Fine, then meet me outside once the class gets over.”
After the class, Shaurya followed Anokhi outside.
Anokhi looked sternly at him and said, “I don’t know if you are doing it purposefully but you are creating a nuisance in every class of mine.”
“I didn’t mean to create nuisance. You were busy writing on the board so I thought of making good use of the time and making some friends. It is you who is treating grown ups as school kids.”
“Shut up. It is just your second day so I am letting it go. But mind it, I am keeping an eye on you. If you try to break the discipline of this institute again, I will be forced to take action against you.” Anokhi warned and left.
When Shaurya returned to class, Shagun asked, “Did you get an earful?”
“Oh, it's nothing. She has a lot of spunk, I admire that in a person. She really seems to hold a lot of power around here.”
“That’s not a surprise given that KICAS was in fact the product of Anokhi’s vision.” Shagun said. “Even though Aastha Kashyap is the founder, it is Anokhi’s efforts that has made them popular among the masses as well as the classes. She managed her own studies and side by side helped Aastha Mam with the administration of the institute. From what I have heard, she has recently completed her bachelors in hotel management and has now joined the institute as a full time teacher.”
“You seem to hold a lot of information about her.” Shaurya was surprised.
“Well, it is not a secret. Everyone working here is aware of this fact. You just have to keep your eyes and ears open to know it.”
Shagun was right. Shaurya was too lost in his own thoughts for the past two days to pay any attention to anything around him.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
“Bhaisahab, I don’t think I can do this. It will be very unfair to her.”
“What makes you think that we are being unfair? She will get more than she gives. The position and status that comes with being a Sabharwal Bahu is envied by many.”
“I don’t think that makes much of a difference to her. She doesn’t care about status, position or money. That is why…”
“Look at these.” Tej showed him the account books. “We are experiencing a steady decline in business for the past six months. We badly need something extraordinary to help us surpass our rivals and get the business back on track.”
“But Bhaisahab..” Shaan tried to protest but was interrupted again by Tej.
“I hope you remember how small you were when Bauji left us. You were in the ninth standard and Alok in seventh. I had to drop out of college to hold the reins of the family and the business. Ever since, I have brought you up as my own children. I married Devi but we agreed to not have our own children until you two have settled down. I have never asked anything in return for all that I did for you. Today, for the first time I am asking you something. Won’t you give it to me?” Tej said, his voice almost choking.
Shaan immediately went and held his elder brother’s hands. “I will. I can do anything for you Bhaisahab, even give my life if the need arises.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“Miss Bhalla, hello.” Anokhi turned around hearing Shaurya’s voice.
He came running to her and said putting on a charming smile, “Good morning Mam. I have something for you.” Then he took out a box of chocolates and extended towards her. “I know we started off on a bitter note so this specially ordered handmade chocolates from Coorg to sweeten things up a bit.”
Anokhi was surprised at his sudden change of behaviour. “Thanks but I cannot take them. I am a teacher here. It is not right for me to accept such gifts from students. You better share it with your friends.”
“Okay, then come outside.”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean we are teacher students inside the gates of the institute but outside we can be friends. So come outside for a moment so that I can give this to you. Now don’t say no. I got this one for you and I am not going to give it to anyone else even if you don’t take it.”
Anokhi started laughing. “You can be very stubborn. Okay fine. I will take this.” She took the box from his hands.
“So are we friends now?” Shaurya asked.
“Outside the campus. Not here.” Anokhi said, smiling. She was about to leave but remembered something and turned. “I guess you remember that you will have your first lesson with Aastha Mam today in our main kitchen. Please be there on time.”
“Yeah, sure.” Shaurya said with a smile.
“By the way, thanks for this gift. I love chocolates.”
“You’re welcome.”
As Anokhi walked away, Shaurya said to himself. “I really need to have you on my side, Miss. Bhalla. After all, you are the lifeline of this institute. If I can take you away from here, the institute will also not last. I want to make Aastha Kashyap rue the day she thought about challenging the Sabharwals.”
Shaurya does not realize anokhi is not astha..she looks like she has had her lessons from the knocks or life already and is much more shrewd smart and has resilance.
Shaurya is too overconfident and underestimating both astha and anokhi bond and his ability to influence here.
Waiting for shaurya to realize at some point his father is the weaker one who tried to maybe manipulate
Wow going very interesting
Originally posted by: AnjuRish
Shaurya does not realize anokhi is not astha..she looks like she has had her lessons from the knocks or life already and is much more shrewd smart and has resilance.
Shaurya is too overconfident and underestimating both astha and anokhi bond and his ability to influence here.
Waiting for shaurya to realize at some point his father is the weaker one who tried to maybe manipulate
Wow going very interesting
Thanks for your feedback. It gives me motivation to continue.
Shaurya neither understands Aastha nor Anokhi that well. I have no intention to make Aastha a weaker character than Anokhi. For that matter I never believed Aastha to be weaker even in the show but let's leave that aside. Here, they both have separate strengths and weaknesses. You will know in the upcoming chapters.
Shaurya has made his plan but he will find it difficult to execute.
Shaan, well his biggest weakness is that he is too loyal to his brother. He has some morality left but they are not strong enough to overome Tej's emotional blackmail.
Ohh boyyy!!! What is this guy up to now!!! Shaurya is dangerous when he turns on the charm...like father , like son...causing havoc in their women's lives😅
Shagun engaged to acp was a surprise😊...
This is getting so interesting!
So, now it's clear as to why would Shaurya hate Shaan if he comes to know the truth! 😆
Shaurya has his plan in bag, and maybe his thinking is similar to that of Tej Saberwal.... I ain't predicting anything at the moment... But I am seriously hoping Astha does not flow in emotions for his son! 🤗
Looking forward to reading more of it...!
Originally posted by: Javeria3991
This is really an awesome story. Continue updating.
Thanks. I hope you will enjoy the upcoming chapters.
Ohh boyyy!!! What is this guy up to now!!! Shaurya is dangerous when he turns on the charm...like father , like son...causing havoc in their women's lives😅
Shagun engaged to acp was a surprise😊...
Ha ha. Yes, Shaurya is trying to use his charm on Anokhi. Let's see how far he succeeds.
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