After she kept her phone down, her longing for Shaurya only grew. She didn't know how to find sleep when there was just too much space around. Surprisingly, her growing belly didn't mind lack of space as much it did the mind the absence of its cuddler and the pamper it would get.
She lay on bed. She couldn't bare to think of switching of lights. She just didn't want to feel alone. She just needed her Shaurya or maa with her. But how could she badger into Aastha's or Devi's room in the middle of the night. Finally the laundry pile caught her eye. She went towards it and picked her favourite shirt of Shaurya's. Uggghhh it smelt weird and too strong. She almost felt nauseous. But it felt like Shaurya. It held his warmth and his love. Shaurya's shirt and she were now almost platonic friends. She knew each one. How each one felt. The time she spent running her hands on the fibres of each. The pocket square that each of his shirt went with. How the shirts buttons would often uncannily get lost or torn off. It was not their poor quality. It was a silent wager between Anokhi and the shirts. The shirts would compromise on their buttons so that Anokhi could get a sneakpeek and in return at moon rise they would not be thrown off into some random corner of the room but neatly placed on the side table. Which was something Shaurya found a departure from the haste that she displayed into getting to feel him close. Oh. What wonderful memories they were spectators to. Shaurya. So depsite the odour she wrapped her arms around the shirt and kisses it. Then she just felt wearing it would be the closest she could feel to Shaurya. She wore it and managed to find some sleep.
And not very unexpected but she dreamt of Shaurya in a Raymond's show room trying shirt pant sets of different shades one by one from pink to flesh to Brown's and grays and blacks. A weird dream. But that was the night.
The next day morning there was a smile on her face. She felt extremely hungry and a bit in wonderland after the dream which only had her and Shaurya. She forgot to change. So there she was a breakfast table in Shaurya's shirt and wearing one of her pyjamas. She begun to absent-mindedly nibble at an apple unaware of the stares. Her spell was broken when her hand touched an usually hot cup of coffee. She had an ouch moment. And everyone almost in a chorus said Lagi toh nhi.
Aastha-Hath dikhao Anokhi. Kya karti ho.
That's when she realised that all long she was honeymooning with Shaurya in a land far from realities.
Anokhi-Nhi. Maa. Mein.
She looks at her shirt and then is embarrassed. She adds an extra button quickly. She just stands up to leave the table.
Anokhi-Mein thoda fresh hoke aati hoon.
Devi-Tumhe bhook lagi hogi naa? Isliye toh bina fresh hue aa gyi. Jo tum kabhi nhi karti. Kha lo.
Anokhi-Maa nhi change karke kha loongi. Woh mein night dress mein hi aa gyi.
Kanchan-Haan. Haan. Armani ki night dress.
Anokhi-Di woh. Woh.
Devi-Tang kheechne ki zaroorat nhi. Tum Shaurya ko bohot miss kar rhi ho naa. Isliye uska shirt pehenke so gyi. Mein samjhti hoon beta. Kal raat isliye Chinese khane ko mann tha naa. Tumhe usse bohot miss kar rhi ho.
Anokhi-Ji badi maa but PS ko mat kehna woh bohot hi zyada hurt honge.
Devi-Nhi kahungi. But kabhi kabhi pati pe hak jatakar usse rok lena buri baat nhi.
Anokhi-Mein unhe kabhi rokna nhi chahti. Jaise woh mujhe kabhi nhi rokte.
Devi-Pata hai mujhe fir bhi. Khair breakfast kar lo. Aur pyaar karti ho toh pyaar ka libaz pehne mein kya sharam?
Anokhi-Thanks for understanding badi maa.
Devi-Chalo. Aaj Shaurya ka favourite already banake rakha hai. Uska favourite hai yeh egg sandwich.
Anokhi-Achaa bana hai badi maa.
Devi-Beta aur ek doon?
Anokhi-Nhi maa bas.
She walks back to the room. She looks at the mirror. She misses Shaurya's glance at her as she dresses up.
Anokhi(In her mind)-Ab college. Aur wahan bhi nhi honge woh. Kash unka shirt uthake jaa sakti. But..... Mein itni emo kyu ho rhi hoon. Haan whenever we are way I always miss him but this time around it is just so. So quiet. She just takes his watch. And wears it.
But waise ek baat toh hai I remember pehli baar jab badi maa ne mujhe PS ke kapdo mein dekha tha. Mujhe laga tha mujhe ghar se hi nikal denge. She goes down the memory lane.
3 years back:-
So as Anokhi wakes up in the morning Anokhi can't find her night top. She looks here and there to finally find that Shaurya had been sleeping on it. She doesn't want to disturb him. So she wears his shirt and gets up. Suddenly she can hear some shouting going on. So she rushes.
Yash-Kanchan yaar. Plumber nhi aane tak kya hoga humara?
Tej-Teri thi woh responsibility Yash.
At the very moment when they see Anokhi half buttoned in Shaurya's shirt they are aghast.
Tej just leaves.
Kanchan has that smile which you have when you have found a treasure of teasing content. Aastha has a smile and so does Shaan.
Anokhi-Woh mein bhagke aa gyi kyunki kuch hua hai aisa laga.
She feels really scared.
She runs back towards the room.
So what do you think is going to happen? Are the Sabbarwals going to over react? Please do comment. Achaa lagta hai. Next part will be up "soon."
So what had happened in the flash back do you think? How did you like this update. We will get back to a sweet present after revisiting what happened when Anokhi wore Shaurya's shirt in the past...... So hope you like both the present and flashback.
