Shakhi SS Marriage Of Convenience

Chapter Thirty Six

"Once again a very happy birthday Shaurya. Let's catch up later. Take care."

Shaurya waved back at the person in his screen before ending the video call. It was Shagun Kapoor, his ex-fiancé. He held a grudge against Shagun for a long time until Anokhi challenged his ideologies and made him see otherwise resulting in him apologizing to her once he realized he's wrong.

Shaurya isn't someone who shies away from apologizing when he's wrong. Even when he hated Anokhi at the beginning or when he made some mean statements against Astha, when he knew he's wrong, he always apologized.

When Shaurya started to understand women better, when he started to question his own ideologies and reached to the point where he confessed to himself that he's wrong, he reflected on his behaviour throughout his life.

Shaurya isn't a full-fledged misogynist. Even after growing up in a patriarchal household, he respected woman in his life. Or so he thought. Yes, he had his double standards but he tried to balance it as best as he could. Whenever Shaurya witnessed his sisters bullying Kanchan, he scolded them but it's his family elders who bullied Kanchan, he stood tight lipped and watched and then comforted Kanchan.

When his female students struggled to support their academics, Shaurya, through their college funds helped them. He had always supported his students to study. But when things come to career-oriented women his patriarchal upbringing kicks in which is the result of both his childhood trauma and his brought up.

Shaurya wasn't proud of who he was. When he recalled the way he behaved with Shagun and broke their engagement, he was ashamed of what he has done. After the night Anokhi confessed her feelings to him, he was more and more aware of what kind of person he was.

Although Shaurya was unconsciously changing ever since Anokhi stepped into his life, he wasn't even aware of all that until that night Anokhi poured her heart to him and when he gave it a thought, he realized that he's changing and he's nothing but grateful to his wife for that.

Shaurya had to let go of his guilt conscious. He needs to let his past baggage back so that he can work more on himself and his future. So, one day Shaurya did manage to get Shagun's contact number and ended up talking to her.

Shagun was surprised by Shaurya's sudden call but she wasn't shocked when he ended up confessing that he likes someone who isn't the ideal daughter-in-law of Sabharwals. The curse that Shagun gave him long time ago, although he wasn't sure if he loved his wife, Shaurya confessed that it did came true.

When Shaurya finished apologizing to Shagun, she being a strong willed, dignified, elegant yet soft-hearted woman that she is, accepted his genuine apology. She expressed how glad she is that he has come to terms of where he was wrong and congratulated him on finding a perfect life partner.

The duo not wanting to break off their five years of friendship decided to stay as friends and remained good friends to this date. Shaurya's mobile buzzed grabbing his attention. He had to meet HOD's of Commerce, psychology, Mathematics and English.

Shaurya quickly texted Anokhi to come get ready at his cabin and informed her that he's off to meeting. They had to go for the puja which Anokhi arranged for him. After having a glass of water, Shaurya left for his meeting.

~ * ~

"Anokhi, jaldi karo na yaar" Shaurya said as he combed his hair with his fingers, "I have to use dressing mirror too."

"Wait kijiyeh. Aap ko ithni jaldi kya hai, Shaurya?" Anokhi asked tossing the towel at laundry bucket and picked hair dryer.

"I'm going to apply face pack, Anokhi" Shaurya announced as he stared at Anokhi who stared back at him through mirror.

"Hareeyy aap pehle nahaane jaayiyeh Shaurya. Humhe Sabharwal house bhi jaana hai na. Ab pack lagvakey aap kya karne wale ho? Jayiyeh" Anokhi said as drying her hair with hair dryer.

Shaurya heaved a tired sigh as he pushed himself off the bed and walked towards Anokhi.

"Yaar, we reached home from temple 45 mins before aur tum jaldbaazi mein hair wash karke aagayi. Ab toh time hai, Anokhi. Aaram se tayar ho jayenge. Relax" Shaurya said taking the hair dryer from Anokhi's hand and added, "Waise tum naturally beautiful ho. Ab ithne sajegi toh you'll look more beautiful. Mein toh aese pack wack lagvake at least little bit compete kar saktha hoon tere sath. Isliyeh pack lagvana zaruri hai meri jaan"

Anokhi gave an amused smile after hearing Shaurya's words who dried her hair with the hair dryer.

"Aap na kuch bhi math bolo. Waise aap ko yeh face pack wagera wagere ki zarurath hi nahi hai. Aap toh naturally handsome ho" Anokhi said as she put her hair on one side helping Shaurya in drying her hair.

"Well, if a beauty queen like you compliments me then thank you mam" Shaurya said dramatically and Anokhi nudged his abs making him chuckle.

"Bas zyadha ho gaya aap ka, Shaurya. Ab jaayiyeh. Jaake nahaake aayiyeh." Anokhi said turning around.

Shaurya leaned forward, intentionally pressing against Anokhi as he placed the hair dryer on the dressing table. He took his time to pull back from her and grinned when she raised an eyebrow at him with a knowing smile.

"Kya kar rahe the aap, Shaurya?" Anokhi asked as she leaned back on the dressing table and placed her hand behind.

"Abhi mein ne kiya hi kya hai" Shaurya replied with a smug smile as he trapped Anokhi between him and the dressing table.

"Shaurya, humhe dher ho rahi hai" Anokhi said wounding her arms around Shaurya's neck as their eyes locked with each other's.

"Toh?" Shaurya said as he leaned forward and nuzzled his nose into her hair inhaling her flowery fragrance.

"Toh aap ab shuru math ho jao. Tayar hona hai" Anokhi exhaled when she felt Shaurya placing small kisses along her neck and slightly pushed him.

"Anokhi! Kya yaar. Birthday boy ko gift milna chahiyeh na" Shaurya said as he pulled back from Anokhi and stared at her lips before looking up at her.

"Birthday boy ku gift zarur milenge. Par voh toh aap ko tab milega jab aap nahaake aayenge" Anokhi said tracing her finger along Shaurya's check before patting his cheek and moving away by pushing him slightly.

"Agar nahaake aaonga toh mujhe mere gift milega na?" Shaurya asked grabbing Anokhi's hand stopping her from moving away.

"Is mein koi sak hai? Jayiyeh. Nahaake aayiyeh. Mein aap ka intezaar karungi." Anokhi said pushing Shaurya towards bathroom.

"You better be ready with my gift, Anokhi. I'll be back in ten minutes"

And true to his words, Shaurya came out in ten minutes. He found his dress on the bed and Anokhi was not inside the room. He quickly changed into his dress and hollered for Anokhi.

"Hareey, chillayiyeh math Shaurya!" Anokhi said entering inside their room.

"Aao na. Mera gift ka time hai ab" Shaurya said gesturing Anokhi to come closer with a suggestive smile.

Shaurya was waiting to kiss Anokhi ever since she told him that he's her miracle. From then he didn't have any proper chance to steal a kiss from his wife. So, he's anticipating for his gift i.e kiss.

A frown appeared on Shaurya's face when he watched Anokhi walking towards her cupboard. He scrunched his eyes in confusion as he watched her searching for something in her cupboard before she turned around with a gift box in her hand.

"Yeh lijiyeh. Aap ka gift" Anokhi said handing the gift box to Shaurya with a wide smile.

"Gift?" Shaurya said with a pout making Anokhi raise an eyebrow in question.

"Aese muh kyun bana rahe ho? Aap ne hi gift maange the na, Shaurya" Anokhi said scrunching her eyebrows in confusion.

Shaurya shook his head and walked to the bed sulking all the way. Anokhi shrugged, walked towards the bed and sat beside Shaurya who was inspecting the gift box. Smiling at his reaction, she nudged him and when he looked at her, she eyed him to open the gift.

"Dhoka! Dhoka!' Shaurya muttered under his breath as he tore the gift wrapper.

Shaurya's fingers stopped when he saw an upside-down album sized book inside. Scrunching his eyebrows in confusion, he took out the album and turned it to the front side.

A gasp left Shaurya's lips as his eyes fell on the front cover of the book and he immediately looked up to find his wife staring at him with eyes full of love and a soft smile lingering on her lips.

"This..." Shaurya trailed his words as his fingers traced the front cover of the book.

"Shaurya Aur Anokhi Ki Kahani" Anokhi said with a loving smile and held Shaurya's gaze with hers, "This is a book, more like an album. Humhari safar ka, humhari kahani ka"

Too stunned to react, Shaurya tore his gaze away from his wife and fixed his eyes on the book on his lap. He opened the front cover and a digital art of him and Anokhi was on the first page with the wordings, "Meeting you was my destiny which even my fate can't rewrite. Happiest birthday to the most amazing, supportive and loving husband ever" below their picture.

A soft smile spread on Shaurya's lips as his fingers traced their picture and he read out the words before turning to Anokhi who leaned on his arm and looked up at him. She mouthed 'Happy Birthday' to him making him smile, lean down and place a kiss on her forehead.

"This is beautiful, Anokhi. Thank you" Shaurya said in a soft tone as he stared at Anokhi.

"You're welcome." Anokhi said and eyed Shaurya to open the next page.

With a constant smile on his lips, Shaurya turned the next page and he saw a digital art of how they dashed into each other in cultural program, their first meeting ever. His lips curled into a bigger smile as his fingers traced the wordings "Pehle Mulakaath"

"Yaadh hai, this is how we first met. I didn't know you back then and I didn't realize I dashed into you until you came onstage and gave me the trophy, Shaurya" Anokhi said smiling at the picture recalling their first meet.

"How can I forget that fateful day? Tab se ab tak tere sath pash chuka hoon" Shaurya said earning a smack from Anokhi. He laughed and added, "Of course I remember, Anokhi. That day you entered my grey life as a dash of colours and made it colourful, Anokhi"

"Well, you are stuck with me for life, Mr. Sabharwal. Deal with it" Anokhi said nudging Shaurya.

"I'm looking forward for that, Mrs. Sabharwal"

Anokhi shook her head with a smile and pointed at the picture where Shaurya hands trophy to her. He traced the picture with a smile and for the next picture he chuckled. It was a picture of Shaurya, Anokhi and Astha where they first get into an argument. Its titled as "Pehle Tashan"

"Tab se ab tak tashan hi toh chal raha hai" Shaurya said earning another smack from Anokhi. He laughed and added, "Achha okay, sorry baba"

The album was full of digital art of them capturing important moments of their life. Shaurya and Anokhi laughed when they see the picture of them being locked in each other's embrace while figures of photographers were at the background.

"This was the turning point of our story na" Anokhi said leaning against Shaurya and looked up at him.

"No, Anokhi" Shaurya said looking down at Anokhi and added, "This is the best part of our story"

"Well, I respectfully disagree sir" Anokhi said laughing at Shaurya who avert his gaze before looking at her.

"Phir?" Shaurya asked with an eyebrow raised.

"There's lot to look forward to in future but yes, mere liye ab tak humhare safar mein humhare confession day toh sabse best part hai, Shaurya"

The duo stared into each other's eyes while a constant smile lingered on their face. Shaurya smiled widely before leaning in and placing a quick kiss on Anokhi's lips before pulling back.

"If you say so, mam"

"We can keep it as second best though" Anokhi said but Shaurya shook his head making her look at him with an eye brow raised, "Phir?"

"Second best part in our story is that I get to wake up next to you every single morning, your limbs entangled with mine, your head on my chest and arm over me. Well, I wouldn't confine any of these as first or second. Each moment with you is special, Anokhi. You have made my life beautiful"

Anokhi's eyes pooled as she raised her hand and caressed Shaurya's cheek. He caught her hand and placed a kiss on the back of her palm before giving her a side hug, allowing her to rest her head on his chest.

The duo continued to go through the album. They laughed, recalled and shared their thoughts as they turned each page. By the end of the album with a picture of them in their casuals cuddled in each other's embrace on their couch, Shaurya closed the book, placed it aside and kissed his wife.

When they broke apart for air, Shaurya placed one last kiss on Anokhi's lips before pulling himself back from her who laid herself against Shaurya.

"I love you, Shaurya" Anokhi closed her eyes and whispered when Shaurya wrapped his arms around her.

Shaurya's heart skipped a beat for a second when he heard Anokhi's words. The urge to reply back her sat on the tip of his tongue but never made it out of his lips. Unconsciously his grip on her tightened as he wordlessly brought her closer to him and rested his chin on her shoulder closing his eyes.

Anokhi voiced out her feelings to Shaurya for the second time after her confession. She knew he heard her; his racing heartbeat conveyed that to her and she didn't feel bad when he didn't reply her back. Rather she smiled when Shaurya tightened his grip around her and pulled her closer.

Anokhi doesn't need words from Shaurya to know on what he feels for her. Although he hasn't voiced out his love to her, she knew what he feels for her and felt it in every bit of his actions. She loves him without expectations and she wouldn't mind waiting for him until he opens up.

And that day isn't far.

~ * ~

Thank you for reading.

Nan ~