Shakhi SS Marriage Of Convenience 

Chapter Six

Once they have reached the Sabherwal mansion, Shaurya looked down to find Anokhi sleeping by placing her head against his arm. She was sleeping deeply that he hesitated to wake her. He leaned in and slowly caressed her cheeks and called her.

"Anokhi... Anokhi wake up"

Anokhi stirred in her sleep. He called her again. This time her eyes fluttered and she slowly opened her tired eyes to look at Shaurya staring at her. Shaurya removed his hand and Anokhi sat up, composing herself.

"We are home. Come"

Anokhi nodded at him and got down from the car. Both walked into the Sabherwal mansion without a word. Anokhi was tensed of what Shaurya would do. Will he able to face his Badi maa? Can he handle himself? There were lot of questions she wanted to ask him but she silently followed him. They went to their room.

"Tum fresh ho ke aao. Mein room mein change karlunga" Shaurya said while Anokhi nodded and walked inside the washroom. (You get fresh. I'll change in room)

Shaurya changed into his Indian wear. They both got ready and walked upstairs silently. Anokhi was anxious of what Shaurya would do but he was strangely calm. They met with the tensed Sabherwal family who were waiting for them. Devi was the first one to react.

"Shaurya beta, where were you? We heard that you came home but went out again. You weren't answering our calls. We got scared" Devi said, holding his arm "Are you okay, beta?"

"Mein teek hoon(I'm fine)" Shaurya said, giving her a weak smile without looking at her and removed her hold from his arm "Let's do this Karvachaudh ritual"

He walked past Devi without another word, took Anokhi's hand in his and moved towards the area where the guests invited by the Sabherwals are performing the Karvachaudh. Devi was shocked at Shaurya's action. He neither called her Badi maa nor answered any of her question. He didn't even look at her. She felt that something is fishy.

None of the Sabherwal women have broke their fast as they were waiting for Shaurya and Anokhi. Gayatri went to get the ritual plate for the daughter in laws of the Sabherwal family which would be first kept in the temple inside the house and then used in rituals.

Anokhi couldn't guess what is going on in Shaurya's mind. She was surprised by the way he reacted. She thought he would confront his Badi maa and let the truth out in front of anyone, that there would be confession of truth. But she was also glad to see him carrying himself perfectly.

Shaurya was not in the right state of mind but he faced his Badi maa to do it for Anokhi who fasted for him. He looked at her talking with Kanchan, a gentle smile playing on her lips. She looked tired but beautiful. In the corner of his eyes, Shaurya saw Devi approaching him. So, he moved towards Anokhi and Kanchan.

"Anokhi" He called her "Kanchan, can I take Anokhi with me for a moment?"

"Shaurya bhaiya, aap ki hi biwi hai. Le jao aap(Shaurya bhaiya, your wife. Take her along)" Kanchan said in a teasing tone and added with concern, "She was telling me she's feeling slightly dizzy, so take care of her"

"Anokhi?" He looked at her in question while she smiled at him, nodding in no.

"Aese koyi bath nahi hai, sir. Mein teek hoon" She said "Chaliyeh" (Nothing like that, sir. I'm fine. Come)

He smiled at Kanchan and took Anokhi with him away from Devi's eyes.

"Kya hua sir?" Anokhi looked concerned "Aap teek ho?" (What happened sir? Are you okay?)

"Kuch nahi. Bas aese hi" Shaurya said, his eyes looking around to make sure Devi is not behind him. Anokhi notices this. (Nothing. Just like that)

"Sir?"

"Hmm?" He looks at her in question "Are you feeling dizzy? Why are they taking time to start the ritual?"

"Sir, they are just getting the Puja things ready" She answered "Ab bathayiyeh na, aap teek ho?" (Now tell me, are you okay?)

"Tum yeh sab ki baare mein math socho(You don't think about this)" Shaurya said and asked sternly "Why didn't you tell me that you were feeling dizzy?"

"Sir, voh –"

"Shaurya bhaiya" Kitty called Shaurya "Everyone's waiting for you and Anokhi"

Shaurya nodded at Kitty. He took Anokhi's hand in his, just to make sure she has support if she feels dizzy again and walked towards the ritual area. He stood next to Yash while Anokhi stood next to Kanchan.

Soon they started the ritual. Anokhi first did a puja to the moon and then turned towards Shaurya. She then did the same with Shaurya. She looked at the sky through the sieve and then looked at Shaurya. She closed her eyes, praying for his long life. She opened her eyes to see Shaurya staring at her intensely.

Shaurya was overwhelmed to see Anokhi doing all this for him. After the emotional turmoil he went through today, he realized how Anokhi was with him throughout the whole thing all while fasting for him the whole day despite her dance and debate competition. He just couldn't understand Anokhi but he knows for sure that she will stand by him no matter what and he is thankful for that. He is not sure about others but if there's someone he could trust right now then its Anokhi.

"Sir?"

Shaurya came out of his thoughts and looked at her in question. Anokhi eyed towards Yash and Kanchan. Confused, Shaurya looked at the couple. Yash was breaking Kanchan's fast by feeding her water and then sweet.

"Oh" Shaurya said in realization.

Shaurya broke Anokhi's fast by feeding her water. He then fed her a piece of Jalebi. Taking him by surprise, Anokhi bowed down to touch his feet. Shaurya reacted in time and stopped her from doing so.

"Kya kar rahi ho? Iski koi zarurat nahi hai(What are you doing? There's no necessary for this)" Shaurya said "Ab chalo mere sath. Have your dinner"

"Lekin si-"

"Mein kuch nahi sun ne wala. Aao" (I'm not going to listen to anything. Come)

Shaurya informed Gayatri that he is taking Anokhi with him. Devi looked at the scene and felt something is really wrong. It looked as if Shaurya is avoiding her. But for what, she doesn't know. She tried to follow Shaurya but a guest held her back.

Shaurya took Anokhi to the kitchen and filled a plate with food. Anokhi notices this. She takes another plate and starts filling it with food.

"Are you that hungry that you'll eat two plates of food?"

"Sir, yeh toh aap keliyeh" She said while he stared at her blankly "Mujhe patha hai aap ne subah se kuch kaaye nahi honge. Isliyeh aap bhi mere sath dinner kijiyeh" (This is for you, sir. I know you didn't had anything from morning. So you have dinner with me too)

Shaurya was too tired to say anything. He just nodded at her. When Anokhi moved towards the dining table, he held her hand. She looked at him, puzzled.

"Can we have it in our room?" He asked while she agreed.

Once they are in their room, they had their food in silence. Anokhi was lost in her own thoughts. She has no idea how Shaan and Astha would react after learning about this. But looking at Shaurya, she was scared of what his decision would be. She also knows that it is extremely difficult for Shaurya to cope up with the truth but she knows in her heart that he came to the ritual only for her and she was thankful for that.

At one side, Shaurya felt extremely grateful to Anokhi for being by his side. He is thankful that she took efforts to bring out the truth in front of him. If she hasn't then he would have lived the rest of his life in darkness, hating his mother and living away from his parents. He is also thankful for her presence in his life.

When they got married, both of them were not okay with the marriage. But as time goes, they have come to understand one another. They have got used to each other's presence in their life. In the beginning he was aloof to her but he started looking things from a different perspective. They did have their fight and arguments but they made sure it didn't affect their life at college where he is her professor, she his student.

Shaurya looked at Anokhi munching her food in silence. He was in awe of her maturity. He can't believe she is the same girl he met back in Kapurthala. The way she handled him today, the way she took part in pain and consoled him flashed before his mind.

Shaurya was overwhelmed with today's happening. He didn't know how he managed not to lose his calm in front of everyone, especially Devi. He wanted to scream his pain out. He wanted to confront Devi and accuse her for all his unhappiness but deep down he didn't have the heart to do it. She raised him as her own for 25 years; 25 years of lie.

When he thought about that letters, he felt a strange pain in his heart. He didn't remember much of Astha's love behind those returned letters but Devi's betrayal and manipulation. When Devi touched him, he didn't even feel disgusted even after knowing that all her love is lie. Rather he felt a sense of void gripping his heart. Will he ever be able to get such a love he thought he received for the past 25 years? What will he do with Devi? What he will do with Astha? Will he ever heal from the wounds his family gave him? He had no answers. He badly wanted an escape from this madness; this house. And so, he decided,

"Anokhi"

"Hmm?" She looked up at him.

"Take a day off tomorrow"

"Why sir?" Anokhi asked, puzzled "Kya bath hai?"(What's the matter?)

"Pack all your things. We are moving out from Sabherwal mansion tomorrow" Shaurya announced his decision, leaving Anokhi shocked.

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Hey guys, hope you have enjoyed reading the chapter. Thank you for reading.

Nan ~