Don't want to stretch Shivaay's redemption, a long chapter dedicated to his journey of growth.

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Few days after reaching the camp

Shivaay was still learning most of the ways of village life, it's hard for him to adjust but he was trying his best to cope up with everything. He got disheartened many times but Anika always made him understand that it was okay to lose some times.

Anika was out with Shalini and Rashmi for Full day Computer Training Camp and she was supposed to be back only for some time during lunch hours. Shivaay was helping the cooking team and he had no problem in handling the equipments now.

One team member looked at Shivaay, he was trying to cut Elephant yam but not using the proper way to do it. She advised him to apply some mustard oil on his hands but he ignored his team member's warning and continued doing the work in his way, team mate also shrugged her shoulders and walked away from him.

Shivaay was continuously itching his hands after some time and getting annoyed with it. He looked around, the same girl who advised him to use mustard oil was murmuring something in everyone's ears and they started laughing at him. One of them walked towards him "Bro, when she told you to use oil, you shouldn't have shown attitude to Amrita"

Shivaay gritted his teeth, getting mocked by unknown people was something extremely humiliating for him and beyond his understanding. He has always been respected in his circle, if not respect then people feared him but never mocked him in public. He yelled "STOP IT" and left from there in anger, ignoring everyone who was trying to stop him.

Prateek entered food prep area when Shivaay was rushing out, he followed him and saw that Shivaay was packing his luggage. Prateek enquired about the incident and he immediately called Anika to inform about it.

Anika reached their room and she stopped at the door, the man who commanded the business world was disheartened by a small hiccup in his long journey of redemption.

Anika kept watching him in silence, Shivaay felt her gaze but he ignored her and continued stuffing things in his bag. After sometime he tried to zip his bag but that damned zip also decided to test his patience. He kicked the bag and looked at Anika, she was still standing at the door and looking at him patiently. He snapped at her in annoyance "What???"

Anika shrugged her shoulders and walked inside "Ho gaya aapka, aur kuch phodna hai ya kisi bag ko laat maarni hai?" (Are you done or you want to kick or break something else?)

Shivaay glared at her and turned away "Anika, leave me alone." She just said a simple "Okay" and walked out of the room. Shivaay looked at her, wasn't she supposed to yell at him or give some Anika brand advice.

Anika was moving with slow steps and fingers crossed in anticipation, she sighed in relief when he said irately "The whole world wants to give me suggestions, why are you walking away without saying anything?" She shook her head, this man wants to talk to her but he won't leave his Tadi aside.

Anika walked towards him slowly, the wild cat was running low on patience and she loves her life a lot, so it's better to take caution while approaching him. She sat beside him and looked at his hand while fighting with rational and idiot Anika. This time the rational one wanted her to hold his hand and the idiot one was telling her to run away to save her life. Umm... proximity, that's a new for her rational side.

She stopped the war in her mind and slowly touched his hand, he flinched for a moment but when she started applying mustard oil on his hands, he suddenly felt calm and for a moment everything felt great to him, itching sensation was almost gone but his heart decided to do somersaults after feeling her touch.

Shivaay's anger subsided after some time and he relaxed for a moment when Anika rested her head on his shoulder but he went rigid again when she asked "Shivaay, why are you reacting so badly for such a simple thing?"

Shivaay tried to push her away but she ignored his protest, he muttered after some more attempts to get rid of the stubborn girl "Anika you cannot understand, just let me go." She shook her head and looked him directly in his eyes "You're right I don't understand, then make me understand. I promise I will not laugh"

She is aware that, it is not only about the cooking incident, it's also about the pent up frustration from past 6 years. She wants him to vent it out and share his inner turmoils without any hesitation.

Anika was busy in drawing rough circles on his arm and he was staring at the wall and then he sighed heavily before saying "Anika, I'm a failure, I cannot even do one thing right. I thought I will help everyone in cooking, turns out I'm not even capable of doing it without making any mistakes. I'm not a good son, I dragged my family through hell and now I think that I'm not even good for you. Look at yourself, you have become perfect in everything and I'm the man who is responsible for his failed family and business."

Anika looked at him, giving up on something without trying will make him feel more like a failure. It's really important to control this situation otherwise he may feel guilty after leaving from the camp.

She thought for a while and despite his protests, she dragged him to the pottery tent and gave him some clay while taking some in her own hand. She gave a push to the pot making wheel and started making some kind of pot, and indicated him to join.

A young boy of about 9 or 10 years was observing the duo from a long time, Anika was messing up her so called pot repeatedly and Shivaay was standing at the side, with a frown plastered on his face.

Shivaay's frown turned deeper when that little boy started laughing at Anika but she ignored him and continued messing with clay and wheel.

After few tries she got better but whenever it was about to take final shape, the pot used to collapse in her hands, still she was not ready to give up on that idea. She held Shivaay's hand and made him do it but the result was same.

The little boy shook his head and laughed again "Didi, aapse itna chota sa bhi kaam nahi hota aur hum logo ko itna kuch sikhati rehti ho? (You're not able to do this small task and you teach us so many things?)"

Anika poked her tongue out at him  "Tumhe badi hasi aa rahi hai? Itna hai toh khud karke dikhao" (If you're so capable then why don't you do it?)

Boy quickly made two small pots and he laughed at them again. She also chuckled at the mess in front of her and asked that boy to teach her the technique, after 8 or 9 attempts finally they made something that looked like a pot.

Shivaay was observing Anika from a long time, she wasn't speaking anything just getting mocked by that boy but at the end they made something nice, finally a small smile appeared on his face and the boy left them alone to get some practice.

Finally Anika and Shivaay made a cute little lamp without any help from anyone and Anika jumped happily after cutting it off from the wheel, but Shivaay frowned at her "Anika iss sab se kya hoga?" (What's the need to do all this?)

She placed that lamp on drying shelf "Shivaay aapne dekha nahi? Mazaak toh uss bache ne bhi udaya hum dono ka, phir uski madad se hum dono ne kuch seekh bhi liya. (Shivaay, you didn't notice? That kid also mocked us but at the end we learned something with his help.)

Anika glanced at him from the corner her eyes, he was looking at the lamp made by them and smiling lightly. She started pouring water on his hands to wash off the clay "Wo hum dono se kitna chota hai aur na hi padha likha hai, par kabhi kabhi kisi ki help lene mein koi burayi nahi hoti kyunki humein har baat ki knowledge nahi ho sakti." (He is so much younger than us and not highly educated like us, but there's nothing bad in seeking help from someone because we can't have knowledge about everything.)

Finally they moved towards their room and she completed the last part of her advice "Shivaay, kisi se help lete time insaan ki haisiyat, umar aur gareebi nahi dekhi jaati, bas ye dekha jata hai ki usse knowledge hai ya nahi" (Shivaay, when we seek someone's help we don't see their status, money or age, the thing that we see is if they have the required skills or not)

Shivaay and Anika continued walking towards their room in silence, she gave him time to process and he was thinking how he overreacted for a small issue and he is also aware that it was the pent up frustration of past many days that made him act up like this.

When they reached their room, she nudged his shoulder "Shivaay...abhi bhi samaan pack karna hai aapko toh aap chale jayiye, car thodi der mein aayegi" (Shivaay..if you want to leave you can go ahead, car will go back in some time.) She chuckled at him before leaving "Iss baar bag ko kick matt karna, mujhe Shalini ka phone aaya tha, bechara bag ro raha tha humare jaane ke baad (Don't kick your bag again, Shalini informed me that the poor bag was wailing loudly after we left it alone)

Shivaay smiled while shaking his head and she left from there to give him some space.

After some time she was sitting near food prep area when a served food plate came in front of her eyes, she looked up and Shivaay was standing there with a wide smile. She also smiled widely and he forwarded a morsel of food for her. Both ate their Lunch in silence and left to complete their duty of the day.

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After few days

Anika and team got information that nearby village is suffering from food shortage as the trucks loaded with government supplied grains quota, have met with an accident on highway and fresh stocks will be provided in few days. Jhukiberi is the only village with extra supply of food grains but they can also run out of food if trucks are delayed for more than 2 weeks.

Anika tried to get some help but cars with supply are not able to reach because of the accident and choppers are not allowed in the area due to some protocol of the nearby Military training camp.

Anika and her team were discussing about the issue and Shalini suggested "I think we should ask for small donation of food grains from residents of our village and distribute it in nearby village"

Everyone thought about her suggestion and Anika hummed in response "Hmm...I think you are right, at least it will help them with few meals."

Shivaay shook his head, according to him this idea was totally impractical "I don't think this will work, why would they give their resources when they will be in the same condition after some days?

Some people supported his POV but some did not agree and both were not wrong, some of them believed in humanity and some were being practical.

Anika heard everyone's POV and she finally turned to her man who was somehow the leader of the group that was against Shalini's idea "Shivaay, sab log shayad donate na karein, par kuch log toh karenge, bina try kiye hum log kya kar sakte hain. Humare stock se jitna possible tha hum log donate kar rahe hain" (Shivaay, everyone will not donate but some people will surely do it, we cannot say anything without trying. We have already donated the possible amount from our stocks)

All agreed to her point but Shivaay was still confused, why would they do it? They are poor people with no resources and they're supposed to behave selfish and hold them for use in future.

Shivaay was still not sure if they're doing the right thing "I'm telling you, don't do this". Anika glared at him and looked towards the village head, he nodded his head for them to continue.

Shivaay has always learned to do things that have a high probability of success and efforts which can fail are not worth his time, but it was time for another lesson of this camp "We should never give up without trying" and maybe a lot more.

Anika finally gathered some courage after getting poked by Shalini and Prateek "Sarpanch ji...Hum logo ne apne raashan se ye Gehu, chawal aur daal nikala hai. Ap jante hain ki pass wale gaon mein anaaj ki bahut kami ho gayi hai." (Sir.. we have put aside some wheat, rice and lentils from our stick as you're already aware that there is food shortage in nearby village")

She continued with the explanation "Sarpanch ji, hum logo ki ek arzi hai. Agar saare gaon wale mil kar thoda sa bhi anaaj dein toh kamm se kamm do ya teen time ke khaane ka intezaam ho sakta hai kyunki uss gaon mein bahut log nahi rehte." (Sir...we have one request, if every one from this village donates some grains at least two or three meals can be arranged for them as their population is not too high)

Many villagers started protesting that they can be next in line, why should they give it, but some were lost in their thoughts. Village head looked at everyone and he can understand their state of mind. Shivaay glanced at Anika, she was standing helplessly while looking at the agitated crowd.

Village Head raised his hand after 10 minutes of commotion "Sab shaant ho jayiye.... Anika Beta, ye baat achi hai, par aise mein hum kaise de sakte hai? (Silence everyone...Anika dear this idea is good but can we....)"

Shivaay shook his head, he was already sure of the outcome and he pulled back Anika "Maine kaha tha na, koi aage nahi aayega. Kyu karenge ye log aisa, they're poor people, how can they help without thinking about their benefit...." (Anika...I told you that nobody will do it. they're poor people, how can they help without thinking about their benefit...)

Shivaay's words got stuck in his throat when Anika turned his face towards opposite side to give a jolt to his long term belief system. An old lady was coming towards them with two fists full of something and then she dropped it in the jute bag placed by them for collecting grains. Shivaay peeped inside the bag, there were two fists full of wheat in it.

All villagers looked at the poorest and oldest lady of the village, she was smiling widely while looking at everyone. Some people started moving towards their house but some were still standing at their place. After few minutes, some people came back with small bags of grains, some just brought a bowl and others brought it in their fists, but with collective effort good amount of Wheat, rice and lentil was collected.

Shivaay was staring at everyone with wide eyes, he was not in a state to believe that poor villagers who don't have anything, donated food for people they don't even know. He always thought that poor people are very money minded and they can never think anything beyond trapping rich people.

All his beliefs were shattered within seconds, but to his amazement he was not getting irritated by it. He was happy with the outcome and he looked at Anika, she was standing there with a wide smile and consoling the people who were not able to donate anything.

Later some villagers and camp volunteers went to donate the collected food grains to nearby village but Shivaay and Anika stayed back. She was observing him from a long time, he was immersed in his thoughts and looking at everyone with amused expressions, she poked his arm to bring him back to reality.

Shivaay turned around and he could only mutter "Anika..I..ummm" She shook her head and laughed at him "Shivaay, I will break your nose if you will repeat these two words in front of me."

Shivaay rolled his eyes while muttering "I'm trying to change her dictionary from such a long time but I'm sure if I will not do it then she will definitely break my nose." He cleared his throat and said after a while "I'm just shocked with today's outcome. I never thought that people who are on the verge of food shortage will help others without any ulterior motive."

Anika celebrated mentally, finally her Tadibaz Bagadbilla learnt the most important lesson of his life. She smiled widely at him "I told you earlier, we have five fingers and all are different in size, likewise we cannot judge everyone with same thought process. Everyone is not same and it isn't necessary that people with Name, Blood and Lineage are good and poor or middle class people are bad. It all depends on an individual person. "

Shivaay was lost in his thoughts "Were all his ideologies just his poor judgement like his decisions in case of Tia and Anika? Is this the reality or is there some truth hidden behind it? Again his practical mind was forcing him to think negatively.

Anika shook his hand and looked in his eyes, he is moments away from bringing the biggest change in his personality and she will leave no room for doubt "Shivaay...I know what you are thinking, this is not a facade; it's the truth that I wanted to show you from a long time. Some people voluntarily donated from their share but you might have noticed some who were still standing unaffected."

Shivaay was about to say something but she shook her head "Shivaay they're not bad people, think about it, aren't we all a little selfish? You are selfish when you think about betterment of your family, I also did many things to save everyone that a selfless person would never do. I even drifted apart two families to teach our enemies a lesson, so I should be declared the worst person of the decade but sometimes we have to do heartless things for our betterment."

She looked at Shivaay, he was lost in his thoughts but she knows that he is listening everything "I'm not saying that you should trust everyone, but you should also give them a chance to prove themselves based on their actions and not on the basis of Blood, name and lineage. All these are just words but the real character of a person can only be seen in their actions not in their lineage."

Anika stopped speaking, she felt Shivaay's tight hold on her shoulders, before she could say anything he spoke in a cracking voice "I think, I have finally understood why you brought me here"

Anika chuckled looking at his response, she teasingly added "Waise 6 din baad supply wali car phir aayegi, ap wapas jana.." (By the way car with supplies will come back again in 6....) before she could complete he hugged her with all his might.

He was experiencing new found emotions for people with no NKK, she can only support him but he is the one who has to understand them. Shivaay whispered a soft "Thank you" in her ear and then to hitch her breath he placed his lips on her cheek for some moments and pecked it lightly.

Anika was too stunned to react after his kiss but came back to reality soon and rubbed his back to calm down his bubbling emotions.

Anika sensed that he was getting overwhelmed with all the emotions, something from her bag of tricks was required to calm him down "Waise apko Middle class logo mein se best person se milna ho toh ap mujhe bata sakte ho (By the way, if you want to meet one great middle class person then you can tell me)

Shivaay looked at her in confusion but
Anika bowed down a little and patted her own back "Arre meet Miss Anika, I'm the best example in your life, mujhe lagta hai apko mera ashirwad le hi lena chahiye" (Meet Miss Anika, I'm the best example in your life, I think you should seek my blessings too)

Shivaay rolled his eyes while shaking his head "I don't have to wonder why Rudy and you are best mates, always riding on a high horse".

Shivaay chuckled at her annoyed expressions and poked her arm "Anika, I have been a good boy, I want a gift." Anika looked at him in confusion when he pressed her biceps firmly "I know you workout a lot now, I want to see your biceps"

Anika smacked on his shoulder and muttered "Zyada nahi bol rahe aap?" (Aren't you getting too frank?) He cupped his mouth to control his laughter and said "Tch..tch...tch..Anika you have a very dirty mind. I don't want you to take your shirt off right now, just show me your biceps when you will wear a sleeveless top."

Shivaay laughed loudly and ran away to save his life, Anika chased him and finally caught up with him after some time.

Both walked towards their room after lots of banter and Shivaay's double meaning entendres. Shivaay looked at Anika when their hands brushed a little, he slowly entwined their Pinky fingers to see Anika's reaction, but she smiled and looked ahead.

He grinned like a Cheshire Billu (cat), before Anika could react he quickly pecked her cheek and ran away after yelling "Earlier I kissed your other cheek and this one was feeling left out."

Anika shook her head and chased him again, both stopped after sometime and Shivaay entwined their fingers.  He glanced at their their hands, they were fitting perfectly like beautiful pieces of puzzle.

Anika smiled and shook her head after seeing his goofy grin, she could only think in her mind "Why he is so cute?" and idiot Anika immediately chided her "Look at his lips, then tell me if he's cute or is he hawwtttt?"

Anika laughed at her own thoughts, their relationship has not even started properly and she's already turning into a cheapdi under his influence.

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Like this, days started passing, after donation day there were a lot of changes in Shivaay; He learned how small things give happiness to people; like villagers got electricity supply for 1 extra hour and the whole village celebrated it like a festival. To his amazement he was equally happy about it, he never felt this happy when stock prices rose for OI but he was ecstatic for 1 hour extra supply of electricity.

How a little extra produce of vegetables gave them happiness; bringing water from the river was like picnic time for village ladies and they looked forward to it. This world was deprived of materialistic pleasures but they are happier and more satisfied than them who have everything, except peace.

He also felt unconditional love from elderly ladies of the village when he got a little sick. Though Anika took care of him but the affection those ladies gave him was new for him. He was again left to wonder that how can people do things without expecting anything in return. His answer lies within this village and its people; they have really changed his perspective about everything he has learned in his life.

Anika observed the changes in Shivaay, how he never tried to impress her unnecessarily and he is sincerely doing all the tasks in camp. After initial days of insecurity with Prateek he realised that Prateek is just a harmless flirt but a good person who respects women and then he never interfered between AniPra's friendship. For others it may seem that he does not care, but for Anika it showed the new found TRUST he had in her, he never sulked when she spent time with Prateek.

She remembers the day when Prateek was lying on his bed and Anika stumbled on a slipper and landed on him. Shivaay walked inside when she was struggling to get up and his first instinct was to laugh at them loudly and then he helped her instead of fretting about their position. This was enough for her to know that he is not the same old Shivaay who never trusted her. Trust was one of the main things he lacked in past and it was her biggest problem too but this was a welcome change in him.

Then there were instances when Shivaay unconditionally helped the villagers with something or the other; the person who always wanted limelight went to help those villagers without anyone's knowledge and never took the credit amongst his team members. She came to know from her team in Delhi that he has filled some online forms for Government scheme related to solar electricity plant in village and it got approved; now villagers will have regular supply of electricity. He was seeing life from a different perspective and learning to enjoy it without any luxuries.

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