Chapter 4

                                    

                                          
Anokhi came out of the washroom and slept on her side of the bed not even glancing at Shaurya. She had her back towards him and he was sitting and staring at a blank laptop. It's been half an hour now and Anokhi had her eyes closed but sleep was far away from her. 
Just then phone rang.  It was Shaurya's phone. 
Shaurya:  Whats up? How are you?  So late in the night.
After hearing the caller
Shaurya: ok i am on my way. 
Anokhi heard the conversation and sensed it was nobody from the family and assumed it to be his friend. Shaurya got up from the bed and changed. He thought Anokhi is sleeping so he didn't disturb her and left. 
It's been 2 hours since Shaurya has left and Anokhi couldn't sleep. She was tossing in the bed and finally she got up. She got thinking where could he go at this hour of the night. She opened her phone and checked her Instagram account. The very first picture in her feed shook her to the core and all the tears that she had controlled throughout the day flowed down her eyes. As she was alone in the house she screamed her heart out. 
The picture she saw was from Shaurya's friends account with the caption  college reunion and it was posted 15 minutes ago. She opened his profile and that friend was live.  She joined and saw Shaurya in that. She again started crying as he was enjoying and had no regret of forgetting their anniversary. 
It was 9 am and Shaurya came back home. He sensed that his family was not home.  He went to his room and went to freshen up. When he came out he saw Anokhi still sleeping. 
Shaurya: what happened  to her? She used to wake up by this time. Is she feeling well? 
He went near the bed and saw she was sleeping in an uncomfortable position with phone in one hand.  He saw she had tear stains on her face and while he was looking at her he twisted his foot and landed on the bed just on her side. His hand touched her hand and he realised she had fever. With his slight touch she woke up and went to his cupboard. 
Anokhi:  you have freshened up, I will get your clothes
Shaurya: I am not going to the office today.
Anokhi: ok and went to her cupboard. 
Shaurya: why are you getting ready? You shouldn't  go to the university as you aren't feeling well. BTW how did you get this fever.
Anokhi didn't answer and put her clothes on the bed. 
Shaurya: i am asking you something, answer me. Everything  was fine at night, then why this fever so suddenly.
She ignored and took her towel in the hand. Shaurya lost his cool and pulled her by the elbow. 
Shaurya: are you deaf (still holding her elbow)? Am I not asking you why are you so sick and what is wrong with your face? Have you been crying. 
Anokhi: oh you finally saw (laughing through her tears). Yes I have cried. 
Shaurya: but why?
Anokhi: Mr. Shaurya Sabharwal is asking why. Yes I have cried because my husband didn't remember our 1st anniversary. Not that I expected anything massive but a simple wish in a text was sufficient. But THE SHAURYA SABHARWAL is a workaholic, who cannot see anything other than his business (Shaurya had left her elbow and now she was holding his collar). If this is not enough i can tell you more. Even though after all this I didn't say anything  because I am the one who has to understand always. You went and left me alone in the house for the entire night for your reunion and then you have  the guts to come in the morning and dictate terms to me Mr. Sabharwal.
Anokhi left his collar and folded her hands saying "Please today is a very important day for me and i dont want to spoil my mood by having any argument with you." She went to the washroom wiping her tears. 
Shaurya was rooted to his spot. He had never seen Anokhi so fierce and talking in this tone. But then he realized they have never talked to each other for this long. There have been small talks (yes, no, ok). That's it. 
His trance was broken by the ringing phone. It was Anokhi's phone and it was his mother so he received it. 

On call
Shaurya:  hello
Maa: Shaurya where is Anokhi? Is she ready?
Shaurya: no she is in the washroom.
Maa: ok listen you go to the kitchen and get some dahi shakar and give the phone to Anokhi.
Shaurya: but why?
Maa: do as I am saying.
Shaurya: ok
Anokhi came out of the washroom and Shaurya gave her the phone. She put the phone on speaker as she was getting ready and was already late. By this time Shaurya was back with dahi shakar and kept it on a table.
Anokhi:  hello maa. Why didn't you come back?
Maa: beta you father didn't leave us without having breakfast. 
Anokhi: thats ok. She realised she had to make coffee for him.
Maa: leave all this. Tell me are you fine and how is your preparation. 
Anokhi:  yes everything  is fine just that i am a bit nervous.
Maa:  dont worry you will do the best.
Aarti took the phone and put it on speaker.
Aarti:  bhabhi all set. I hope you weren't disturbed yesterday  and  bhaiya didn't waste much of your time when you two were alone.
Anokhi (controlling her tears): you have started talking too much. You come home i will teach you a lesson.
Aarti:  acha best of luck
Nimi:  anokhi di best of luck. I have prayed a lot for you.
Parth:  bhabhi best of luck. Give it your best shot.
Divya: didi all the best from all of us. Make us proud.
Maa: ok now leave or else you will get late. BTW did you have breakfast, oh i forgot you dont eat anything before your exam. Ok give the phone to Shaurya.
Shaurya: yes maa I am listening.
Maa: video call me and give Anokhi dahi shakar in front me.
Anokhi was hesitating but she agreed because of her MIL
Anokhi: ok maa bye and do come home before I am back.
Maa: ok bye.
Anokhi left the room. This entire conversation was heard by Shaurya. He was thinking was he so unimportant in her life that he knew nothing about her or was he so uninterested in her life that he never got to know anything.
His thought process was broken by the sound of coffee mug being placed on the table next to him. 
Anokhi: your coffee.
Without hearing his reply she left. 
Love Shay,
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