Next afternoon Anokhi was resting in the room while Shaurya was sitting in the living area talking to Tej about some stuff.
Tej-Anokhi kaisi hai ab beta?
Shaurya-Kaisi hogi. Abhi toh bas treatment start kia hai. To feel normal doctor ne kahan aur ek month minimum lagega. But the hormonal changes happen till 3 months after delivery. So hopefully by then Anokhi should be ok.
Tej-Doctor ne kuch instructions diye kya? I mean I know puttar yeh baatein Anokhi ke liye personal hai but mein yehi bol rha hoon ki agar humare taraf se kisi cheez ka dhyaan rakhna ho bata de. Hum sab dhyaan rakhenge putar. Aur Siac ka stress bilkul mat le. Usse bhi bol ki woh bhi naa le. Siac uska intezar karega. I know woh project renewal hua hai. And they want her to lead it. But hum baat karenge ki kuch din ke liye responsibility Shanmukha laegi. Only till Anokhi is not fine. Aisa nhi hai ki mujhe lagta hai uska bacha sambhalne ke liye ghar pe rehna hai. Bas mujhe woh thaki si lag rhi hai. Aur bohot pareshan bhi. Uska health sabse important hai. Aur tu bhi thoda off le le. Usko support karne ke liye. Baki hum sab hai. Kuch bhi usse chahiye ho bata dena kisiko bhi. Alok aur Shaan sun lo. Thoda kaam kar lo ab. Shaurya puttar ko ghar bhi dekhna hai. Alok woh kaam dekhle jo mail mein bheja tha. Ab Shaurya ke bina bhi kaam karna seekh.
Alok-Ji. Ji bhaisaab. Saara kaam kar lunga. Shaurya ne proces bataya. Aur pata hai maine voice record kar li. Tak doubts ho toh dekh loon. Shaurya puttar tu kuch soch mat abhi Anokhi ko teri zyada zaroorat hai.
Shaurya-Thanks! You know asaan ho yaa mushkil mein Anokhi ka jitna ho sake utna khayal rakhunga. Thanks for making it easier.
Just then Devi comes.
Devi-Arre Shaurya mujhe kya banana chahiye Anokhi ke liye. Koi naya diet suggest Kia kya doctor ne?
Shaurya-Nhi maa. Bas zyada se zyada fruits aur veggies. Aur coffee kam bola hai.
Devi-Haan tumse Jo woh aadat seekhi hi madam ne. But uska Tod hai uske liye ek badhiya hot chocolate bana doongi aur usme women's horlicks bhi dal dungi. Usko pata bhi nhi chalega ki horlicks hai. Aur thodasa chocolate sauce.
Yash-Arre mein yeh laya hoon. Dark chocolate. Suna hai isse mood accha rehta hai. Fridge mein rakhta hoon. Anokhi ko de Dena jab chahiye usse.
Kitty-Bhai woh shopping pe chal sakti hai? Shopping se better koi therapy nhi.
Shaurya-Bola tha usse. Usne mana kar diya. Aanya ko chodke nhi jayegi woh kahin.
Kanchan-Arre Aanya ke liye mein hoon naa.
Shaurya-Kanchan galat mat samjhna but Anokhi ko lagta hai ki Aanya ko kuch zaroorat hua toh. Har cheez ke liye itni guilty feel karti hai. Aur perfectionism ka bhoot Chadha hua hai uspe.
Aastha-Shaurya aisa hota hai. Tu uske samne yeh sab mat bol. Shayd usse bura lage. Usse abhi sath ki zaroorat hai.
Anokhi-Hhhmmm.
Aastha-Anokhi tum uth gyi? Kuch chahiye?
Anokhi-Nhi. Thank you. Aap sab kitni care karte ho meri. Jab mein ghar mein aayi thi it was me against this world. But now even if it's the whole world against me I have people who will stand with me. Thank you everyone. Jhoot nhi kahungi. Iss mental phase se nikalne ke liye time lagega. But abhi atleast I don't feel alone. I don't feel so confused. I used to feel so scared ki agar aap logon ko pata chala toh aap kya sochoge. But aap toh mera support system ho. Last nau mahine se the. I thought after delivery bas ho gya. But no. Even after there being a cute, little kid who is the centre of your attention I still am so, so important to you. Thanks.
Shaurya-Obviously Anokhi! We are forever Anokhi. Nothing ended with Aanya. It just started all over again. A new journey. And hum sab hai. Honestly maine bhi nhi socha tha ki woh tumhe samjhenge but now I know they understand you. That makes me feel so peaceful and happy. That you have not just me but others looking out for you.
Anokhi-Thanks.
Devi-Ab thanks mat bolti raho. Tum rest kar rhi thi naa medicine leke. Toh neeche kyu aayi.
Anokhi-Haan woh bas aise hi mann kia thodi der aa jaoon.
Tej-Apno ka jhoot pakad lete hai beta. Pehle nhi pakad paate the but waqt ke sath hum Tera bhi jhoot pakdna seekh gye hai. Khair tujhe Shaurya se baat karni hogi. Tu jaa puttar.
Shaurya-Anokhi chalo.
Anokhi was just about to leave but then she felt she is so loved by the family that they hate to see her in pain. They want the best for her. So there is no need to hide.
Anokhi-Hhmmm. It's nothing actually. My cold patch. Nhi milra. My body is hurting. So.....
Everyone scramble in different directions searching for that elusive cold patch. Kanchan and Yash go to search the cold patch they had bought last year when Yash had sprained a muscle during gym. Devi went to her room to search if she could find the cold patch she thought she had kept.
Aastha-Anokhi bohot pain ho rha hai? Mein ice water lati hoon. Usko cloth mein bandh deti hoon will work like a patch.
Shaan-Arre Aastha woh fridge toh hai but freezer ka temperature ka issue hai. Kal se barf nhi jam rhi. Mein uss electrician ko dekhta hoon.
Anokhi-Arre papa itni si baat ke liye?
Shaan-Meri beti pain mein hai woh itni si baat kaise hai?
Anokhi-Utna bhi pain nhi hai. Thoda hi hai. Not too much. I promise.
Tej-Shaurya usko kamre mein le chal. Aur I think tujhe kisi aur doctor ko bhi dikhana chahiye. I mean itne din baad bhi pain?
Shaurya-Bade papa doctor keh rhi thi kabhi kabhi hota hai. Wifey medicine logi. Kyunki patch nhi mil rha hai naa.
Anokhi-Le leti. But abhi doosra ek medicine kia hai. Aur thodi der baad Aanya ko feed bhi karna hai. Itna medicines nhi le sakti. It's ok hubby. Thoda pain hai.
Shaurya-Tum kuch bolo hi mat. Kamre mein chalo mere sath.
They walk hand in hand towards the room while the Sabbarwals where all looking for cold patches and solutions. But now Anokhi's fears were patched up. She felt slightly better now that she was no longer alone. Over time Anokhi slowly healed. Ultimately she was able to achieve the best of all worlds- the most romantic relationship ever, being a mom, great friendships, a flourishing career. Everyone in the Sabbarwal house especially Shaurya and Anokhi grew off another. And that only became stronger on that day when Anokhi just felt she had lost it all. That's what love is. It never lets us go or lose ourselves. It helps us find ourselves and love ourselves.
Finally done with this short story called Overcasted. I hope you all liked. I am open to suggestions at this point from the readers of what they want me to write next. Will try to come up with something fun. Until then do send me what's on your wishlist. Please comment!
