A/N: Warning. Long chapter ahead. Enjoy reading.

Part II

Shaurya was taken aback when he found Shagun staring back at him with a big smile, her eyes with tears. He was thinking that he was expressing his feelings to Anokhi but only when she turned, he found that It was Shagun and not Anokhi.

Shaurya noticed the transition in Shagun's eyes as she charged forward to hug him but he reacted in time and stepped back.

"What do you think you are doing?" Shaurya nearly yelled while Shagun was shocked to see this response of Shaurya.

"Shaurya?" Shagun said in disbelief.

"Tum yehan kya kar rahi ho Shagun!" Shaurya paused and then added "Toh voh tum hi thi jo us din mujhe bareish mein aur holi puja wali din dikhi!"

"Haan Shaurya, I wanted to see how much you missed me. I wanted to surprise you and I'm glad I did it" Shagun said excitedly while Shaurya's face twisted with annoyance.

"I'm surprised, that's for sure. But not for the reason you have in your mind" Shaurya studied Shagun's expression and spoke.

"Kya kehna chathe ho, Shaurya?"

"Tumhe yehan kis ne bulaya!" Shaurya tried to act composed but he couldn't.

"That doesn't matter Shaurya. I came back for you and I'm here to stay. Sab kuch teek ho jayega. See you confessed your feelings too. I a-"

"Let me stop you right there, Shagun. It's all a misunderstanding. Never ever think that we are getting back together. I don't feel anything for you and yes, I would be the happiest if you just leave and continue your studies"

Shaurya tried to walk away but Shagun blocked his way. He glared at Shagun. He turned on his heals and went other way, not wanting to see Shagun.

Shaurya had planned everything for Anokhi and now it got spoiled, thanks to the unwanted visitor. Why did she had to come in front of him when he was about to start something beautiful with Anokhi?

Shaurya went to the isolated garden area and sat on the stone bench. He buried his face into his palms and groaned in annoyance. How did Shagun came in front of him all a sudden?

Shaurya knew that he behaved very badly with Shagun. He hadn't even realized that until he saw how his words broke Anokhi. He has been meaning to apologize to Shagun but not this way.

Right after their break up, in the following days Shaurya has come to realize what he had with Shagun was never love. He didn't feel hurt that she has left him. He was only mad that his family's reputation was at stake. When she left, her absence didn't even bother him.

If Anokhi doesn't give him a little bit of attention then he'd go crazy. But with Shagun, it was never like that. Whatever he felt with Anokhi was passionate and craziness and something which he has never experienced before. Before Anokhi, he was raw; nothing to hide. With Shagun, it just felt like a duty. That is why he concluded that he never loved Shagun.

Shaurya wanted to make this Holi special for Anokhi. He wanted to apply color on her cheeks, enjoy Holi with her, confess his feelings to her. But everything went to drain because of Shagun!

Shaurya stood up and walked back to the event area. He wanted to meet Anokhi. His eyes started searching for Anokhi among the crowd and his annoyance kept building as he couldn't locate her. He sent her a couple of texts and started searching for her again.

Shaurya asked around to Anokhi's friends and Fest team members, his restlessness evident on his face. He was shocked when he saw his Badi maa, Bade papa and Chacha with Shagun laughing together while an uncomfortable Kanchan and his Chachi stood aside and watched everything.

Shaurya couldn't make anything out of the situation. He decided to deal with it later and walked away. Shagun who noticed Shaurya, excused herself, took a handful of colors and followed behind Shaurya. Talking with his family has boosted her confidence.

"Shaurya, rukho" Shagun followed behind Shaurya and called him out.

"Kya chahiyeh Shagun tum ko?" Shaurya sounded irritated.

"I just wanted to apply colors on you. Happy Holi Shaurya" Shagun was about to step forward but Shaurya stopped her by moving back and raising his hand.

"Shagun, ho kya gaya hai tumhe? I said I don't have any interest in getting back together right. Mere picche kyun pade ho? You're ruining my day!"

"Shaurya, I know you are angry with me. But please, I have come back na"

"Kis ne aane ke liye bola tumhe? Main ne? I have completely moved on, Shagun. Go back to Cambridge and complete your studies instead of wasting both our time here" Shaurya didn't want to sound rude but he couldn't when she kept on irritating him.

"But Shaurya, I haven't moved on and I know in my heart that you didn't too. I don't want to place my studies above you. That's why you called off our engagement right. But now I choose you and I want to be with you, Shaurya. Let's start our relationship from where we left" Shagun said, trying to hold Shaurya's hand but he stepped back.

"Lagtha hai tum he samaj mein nahi aaya. I don't care why did you come here but yes, now that you are here. Mujhe tumse ek bath bolna tha. Voh bol detha hoon"

"Kya kehna hai, Shaurya?" Shagun asked, seeing a glimpse of hope.

"Sorry" Shaurya Sabherwal was not a man to apologize but when he knows he's at fault then it doesn't take him long to apologize.

"Sorry? Kis bath pe?" Shagun asked clueless.

"For the way I behaved with you, uskeliyeh sorry. I shouldn't have humiliated you and I'm sorry for that. I respect you that you have picked your studies over me. Other than that, I have nothing left for you, no feelings"

"Aese math bolo Shaurya. Yeh sach nahi hai. Tum ab bhi mujse hi pyaar karthe ho"

"I can't believe this!" Shaurya shook his head in disbelief "I was surprised to see you because tum he yahan nahi hona chahiyeh tha, not because I have missed you! I love you? Coming to think of it, I realized I never did, Shagun! I apologized to you because I was wrong about my view of girls and career. That's it. Whatever you heard me confessing today, voh tumhare liye nahi tha. That was for someone who I love and that's not you! Samaj mein aa ri hai tumhe? I love someone else and I'm very happy with her, Shagun. We had a past. We broke up and I have moved on. I request you to do the same. So, stay away from me Shagun! If you want to stay back for the Holi party, you are welcome to stay but please stay out of my way!"

Shagun was dumbfounded while Shaurya left from there. He walked through the corridor and finally found Reema. He asked about Anokhi and she said she think Anokhi might be in hostel. So, Shaurya started walking towards hostel but his Bade papa stopped him on his way and introduced to a potential trustee.

Shaurya grew anxious as Tej brought him along but relaxed on seeing that Shagun left. He tried to excuse himself but the Sabherwals brought him home with them. Shaurya's restless was noticed by three people. Devi and Alok thought Shaurya's restless to meet Shagun while Kanchan knew that its Anokhi.

Kanchan found Shaurya alone and asked him what happened. He said about Shagun and what happened.

"Is liye aap ithne restless ho?"

"Nahi, mein usse leke restless kyun feel karunga? Anokhi ki waje se. Us ne mere call ko uta nahi ri hai. Messages ka reply bhi nahi diya. Mujhe usse milne jana hai par sab mujhe ghar leke aa gaye" Shaurya said annoyed.

Thankfully Kanchan came with an idea to get Shaurya out under the pretext of meeting with the owner of the venue Shaurya had his eyes on for the Fest. The Sabherwals had no objection and soon Shaurya left from there after thanking Kanchan.

Shaurya reached Anokhi's hostel and banged her room door but was met with silence. He even threatened to break the door but didn't get any response from her, his texts went unnoticed. That is when he received a call from an unknown number. He ignored it at first but had to take as he received more calls. He moved out from hostel and picked the call.

"Hello"

"Shaurya, it's me Shagun"

"Unbelievable" Saying this Shaurya was about to end the call.

"Shaurya, please meri bath suno"

"Mujhe kuch nahi su-"

"I'll tell you the truth" Shagun nearly yelled, fearing Shaurya would hang up the call.

"Kya keh rahi ho? What truth?"

"The truth of why I came back, more precisely who brought me back"

"Shagun, I'm not interested to hear your made-up stories"

"Shaurya, you know me well. I-"

"Correction. I used to know you, Shagun. Now I doubt if you are the same Shagun I met years ago" Shaurya deadpanned.

"Shaurya, if you still think I have the intention to get back with you after you told me off, then relax. I won't force my feelings on someone who doesn't feel the same for me" Shagun said shutting down Shaurya "I just want to make things right with you before I leave for UK"

"Shagun, I'm in middle of something important. Whatever you want to talk, can't it wait?"

"You said you have feelings for someone else right? Then what I want to tell you is very important for you to know, Shaurya"

"What do you mean, Shagun?"

"I'll text you my address. I'll tell you in person"

Shaurya contemplated what to do. He finally decided to meet Shagun and sort the whole thing.

"Okay, I'm coming"

~ * ~

"Thank you for meeting with me Shaurya" Shagun said after placing her order. They met at a lawn restaurant.

"Shagun, what were you saying in the call? Who brought you back? What should I know?"

Shagun asked Shaurya to calm down and explained everything in detail of how she was approached by Devi Sabherwal and manipulated by her. She explained everything till the Holi party. After listening to everything, Shaurya burst out.

"Do you have any idea whom you are talking about? My Badi maa would never do something like this! You're just cooking up stories to justify yourself. I can't believe that you can stoop this low, Shagun"

"Enough, Shaurya!" Shagun had enough with Shaurya's accusations "I'm not cooking up anything. What I said was true. It was your Badi maa who approached me, manipulated me to enter your life again. She said that you still loved me and that's the only reason I agreed to do what she said. But when you said you have feelings for someone else, I did confront her about it and said I'm out. She tried to manipulate me again but I didn't fall for her manipulation again! I told her that you have feelings for someone else, Anokhi Bhalla right? Imagine your Badi maa's reaction. She didn't care that you have feelings for Anokhi. She asked me if I'm still in to become Mrs. Sabherwal. I told her to get you married to someone who you love. So, she threw me away and swore that she would separate you from Anokhi by hook or crook. I love you but I won't force myself on you when you love someone else. Also, I want you to be happy. That is why I called you and telling you the truth about your Badi maa. Who knows she might be manipulating you too according to her will! That's the truth, Shaurya! I know you won't believe any of my words without any proof. So, here's the proof. See for yourself and decide"

Shagun extended her mobile. It was call logs between Devi and Shagun. Shaurya was shocked to see so many calls between them. When he told his Badi maa he felt as if he saw Shagun she didn't say anything about meeting Shagun herself. That planted the first seed of doubt in his mind and suddenly one by one Shagun's words started to make sense.

"Check our texts too"

As Shaurya went through the text, it was their plan discussion. There were even pics of the dress both Anokhi and Shagun wore today. They were wearing matching dress today which can't be a coincidence. Shaurya felt as if the floor beneath him vanished.

"But why would Badi maa do this?" Shaurya said in a shocked tone, confusion written over his face.

"Can't you see Shaurya? Your Badi maa doesn't want you and Anokhi to end up together" Shagun said "She feels Anokhi's not fit to be a Sabherwal Bahu"

Shaurya heaved a sigh in frustration and buried his face into his palms. His Badi maa did that to him? She who raised Shaurya as his own for 25 years, who always kept his wish above hers did that to him? How could she do all this and why and for what?

"My curse has come true it seems" Shagun said with a dry smile "You're in love with someone who doesn't think like you, who doesn't fit in the category you or your family expects yet you're head over heels for her, Shaurya. I know you need time to process everything. Best of luck. I hope you'll get to unite with Anokhi. I'll leave now"

Shaurya weakly nodded while still processing what he found out. At one side he was completely shocked and disappointed but on the other side he was hurt that his Badi maa did this. Anger sparked inside Shaurya. He wanted to get this out of him.

Shaurya raced his car towards the Sabherwal mansion. When he entered the mansion, Tej, Devi, Alok, Gayatri, Kitty and Bebo were discussing about Shaurya and Shagun. Devi was the one who started the topic about getting them two married. Everyone was excited save for Kanchan.

When Alok approached Shaurya and gave him a hug, congratulating him that Shagun's back, Shaurya lost his cool. He broke the hug and stepped away from Alok.

"Who invited Shagun to our Holi party?" Shaurya asked with a poker face.

Shaurya knew it was his Badi maa but he wanted to give her a chance to see if she'll confess the truth. Devi got alarmed. She tried to control the situation. She said none of them had any clue why Shagun came back and coaxed him into getting back to Shagun, telling him how Shagun came back for him and wishes to marry him.

"Aur kithne jooth bolenge aap, Badi maa?" Shaurya, who was silent the whole time finally broke his silence.

"Kya kaha tum ne Shaurya?" Alok was the first one to react while rest were shocked to hear Shaurya's words.

"Kyun? Mein kuch galat bol diya kya?" Shaurya clenched his fist, trying to control his anger in check.

"Shaurya, tum aese kyun bol rahe ho? Kya jooth bola mein ne?" Devi started to panic while Tej watched the scene unfolding before him.

'Kahi Shagun ne Shaurya ko sab kuch batha diya kya' Devi thought.

"Voh toh aap bathayenge na Badi maa"

"Shaurya, gol gol bathein kyun kar rahe ho? Kya kehna chathe ho?" Tej asked in a demanding tone.

"Wahi jo Badi maa chupa rahi hai" Shaurya said, his eyes fixed on Devi "Mein abhi abhi Shagun ko milke aa raha hoon aur voh mujhe sab kuch sach sach batha chuki hai"

Everyone was shocked as Shaurya continued to reveal what Devi did without mentioning anything about Anokhi. Devi who was silent finally broke her silence.

"Haan, mein ne yeh sab kuch ki hai" Devi finally confessed and moved towards Tej "Aur Tej, mein yeh sab isliyeh ki hai takhi Shaurya us Anokhi se dhur rahe"

"Mein Anokhi se pyaar se kartha hoon, Badi maa" Shaurya said in a firm tone, shocking everyone.

"Aese math bolo Shaurya!" Devi yelled "Kya bath kar rahe ho!"

"Mein jo feel kartha hoon, wahi bol raha hoon, Badi maa. Mein Anokhi se pyaar kartha hoon. Aap ko Anokhi se kya problem hai?"

"Kaise problem nahi hogi? She's not suitable for you, not suitable to be a Sabherwal bahu. She would never fit in our house, Shaurya" Devi said firmly.

"I know she'll. I love her and I won't let her go"

"And I won't let her enter this house, Shaurya! Can't you see? She's the mirror image of Astha! She will leave you one day like your mother did! I would never allow her to step inside this house"

"My Anokhi is nothing like Astha Kashyap! And I'm not Shaan Sabherwal. I love her and I'll only marry her, stand by her side and support her!"

"I won't let this happen, Shaurya. I won't let her come into my house!"

"Then I'll leave Sabherwal mansion!" Shaurya yelled "I'm not saying this because you said you won't accept Anokhi! I'm saying this because I couldn't trust your words anymore! Right after Shagun told me everything, I can't stop thinking about the possibility that you have kept doing the same with me all these years!"

Everyone was shocked listening to Shaurya's words, especially Devi who felt the ground beneath her slipping away. But she covered soon. Shaurya and Devi got into a heated argument, something which is happening for the first time. Alok tried to calm them but Tej just observed everything, rage filling him.

"Bas!" Tej's voice echoed in the walls of Sabherwal mansion, making everyone in the room flinch at his tone "Ek sabdh aur nahi!"

"Tej me-" Devi started but Tej raised his hand at her, shutting her down while his eyes were set on Shaurya.

That is when a confused Shaan walked into the Sabherwal mansion. He was shocked to see everyone in the living room. He could realize that something's up.

"Do you even know who you were raising your voice against? My wife Devi Sabherwal, the same woman who raised you for 25 years because your own mother left you. You ungrateful boy, you were good as an orphan when your mother left you and your father became a drunkard. You are raising your voice at Devi who took pity at you and raised you? Do I even have to tell you whatever she has sacrificed for you? What are you even worth of? You're just a charity we raised all these years! Instead of being grateful, you are raising your voice against her? For who? That low-class girl? I should have seen it coming. You stood up for that girl, questioned my authority and now this? You ungrateful boy! Ithni saal parwarish toh humne ki hai par bilkul tum ne apni maa pe gaya hai. The same ungrateful, selfish and -" Tej roared, his eyes filled with rage while Shaurya flinched at Tej's tone. He couldn't even believe his ears. Did his Bade papa told all this?

"Bhaisaab!" Shaan yelled catching everyone's attention. He was too shocked to react before. He couldn't believe that his brother is spitting venom against his son "Bas!"

"Aayiyeh janab, aap ka hi intezaar tha" Tej wasn't backing down "Here comes another ungrateful human"

Whatever that held this family together broke as brothers charged each other with accusations. Devi and Alok didn't back off but Devi was careful enough to not say anything against Shaurya. While they charged at each other with accusations, a lone tear escaped Shaurya's eyes followed by others.

Shaurya stared at his family with a hint of horror and tearful eyes. He hasn't raised his voice in front of his family in his whole existence. When he did, he was thrown from the place of Prince to mere charity? Orphan, charity, pity, ungrateful, selfish... Those words kept eating him from within. The love his Bade papa, Badi maa and the rest of family gave him, is that what it always was? A charity? They pitied him, not loved him?

Shaan went on to talk about how his Bade papa and Badi maa planned and separated Shaurya and Astha. For the first time Shaurya actually listened to what Shaan said regarding Astha. He was deaf all these years because of his Badi maa's love and today she threw him away in an instant? His father was an absent figure in his life. So, he always tried to win his Bade papa's approval, to make him proud but the very guy tore his spirits down and reduced him to nothing but a charity.

Tej and Devi responded back equally furious as Shaan. They said a lot but few stuck in Shaurya's mind.

"Agar Devi nahi hothi toh aaj tumhara yeh beta kissi ke layak nahi hota!"

"My Devi and I raised your burden and today your burden is questioning us! We should have abandoned him just like his mother abandoned him!"

His childhood trauma, abandonment issues, trust issues everything started to surface as Shaurya shivered. He took a step back and turned on his heel and ran out of the Sabherwal mansion, eyes with tears and heart broken. Shaurya has always thought that his family is his strength. But the very family broke him today.

As he got inside the car, Shaurya frantically started the car, his entire body shivering. He drove away from the house, trying to shut the voices he heard in his head. He screamed as he cried. He couldn't shut the voices of his family.

Orphan, charity, pity, ungrateful, selfish, burden...

Shaurya drove straight to the guest house. The workers there got alarmed seeing the state of Shaurya but didn't question him. He walked inside the guest room and locked himself inside his room.

The empty walls of the room echoed with Shaurya's cries as he sobbed, letting his pain out. For a guy like Shaurya, family was everything. But the last 25 years he spent with his family looked like a lie to him now. The pain felt unbearable as he tried to shut his ears so that he can't hear his family's voices calling him names.

The images of the time Shaurya spent with whom he considered as family flashed before him. The motherliness his Badi maa showed, the way that family celebrated him, Shaurya shivered. He fell on the bed and screamed into the pillow, trying to take his pain out. But it only seemed kept increasing.

Shaurya's mobile started ringing pulling him out of his terrible state. It was from Shaan. He wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. When the calls didn't stop coming, he threw his mobile across the wall.

"Shaurya sir?" Someone called him from out.

"GO AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Shaurya yelled as he sat up on the bed, wiping his tears.

"Sir, are you okay?"

"I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE!"

The worker left from there. He called and informed Shaan that Shaurya's at the guest house. Shaan, who met Kanchan on his way out, took her along with him. He filled Kanchan about what happened on the way and she was shocked.

When Shaan and Kanchan tried to talk to Shaurya, he was adamant and didn't let them meet him neither talked to them after asking them to go away. He has locked himself in a room away from the outside world but his family's words continued to haunt him.

Shaurya spent two days locked in the room. He didn't care to do anything. As the pain kept increasing, a void started to fill his heart. His mind was way too messed up. He either slept or suffered through his pain. The only hope that kept him at night when it was dark and his heart heavy was the thought of Anokhi. The very thought of her eased his pain a little but filled his heart with more doubts, his trust issues and fear of abandonment surfaced. He recalled how she left him on the day of Holi and that scared him. Yet the little bit of peace he felt when he thought of her got him going.

The only time Shaurya opened the room door is when the old maid living in the mansion knocks his door to give him food and water. He would have a bite or two just to keep the heart of the old lady. He couldn't eat more than that. He even stopped opening the door by second day afternoon.

Everyone was worried about him. Even Astha came and tried to talk to Shaurya but she left with tears as he didn't reply even to her call. When Astha called him from the other side, Shaurya stuffed his face in the pillow and muffled his cries. Whatever he did, whatever he said to her started filling his mind.

Shaurya is not mentally strong any more, the pain caused by his family consumed him. The time he spent locked in the room gave him lot of time to think. Shaan would sit outside his room door and talk to him. With all that Shaurya has finally come to realize where his life went wrong before 25 years – full of manipulation, betrayal, lies, anger, fear and loneliness. Yet he couldn't process everything at once and stayed locked up, wanting to get a grip over himself.

Shaurya pushed everyone away. He wanted to be alone and take it all inside him, to process everything, to understand it, to accept it and to overcome it eventually. So, when he heard Anokhi's voice, Shaurya was taken aback. It took him few seconds to realize that she's actually here.

'Is Anokhi really here?'

Shaurya got on his legs and frantically rushed to the door, hoping to find Anokhi there. When he opened the door, he found Anokhi standing in front of him. He saw her gasp as she took in his appearance.

"What the hell PS! I have called you at least 100 times. Your mobile was switched off and you didn't come to college. You know how scared I was?" She paused and added in a shaken tone "What happened? What have you done to yourself PS?" Anokhi chided as she looked at him with wide eyes, her eyes moisten.

"Anokhi?" Shaurya's whispered, still not believing that she's right in front of him. Her rest of words fell deaf to his ears.

"Haan ji, Anokhi hi hoon" Anokhi said as she walked past Shaurya into his room "Aap se me-"

Anokhi stopped her sentence in mid as she took in the appearance of the room. She covered her mouth with her hand as she saw the whole room destroyed. Everything was messed up. There were broken glasses, vases and destroyed curtains. Everything was out of place, either knocked off or broken.

"PS..."

Anokhi stared back at Shaurya with horror in her eyes. She inched closer to him and took his hand in hers. His skin was burning. He stared back at her with glassy eyes, too weak to speak.

"PS You are burning!" Anokhi panicked as she dragged him to the bed and made him sit down "Aap kuch bol kyun nahi rahe? Aesa kya ho gaya aap ko? Aese kyun beithe ho? Yeh room ke is haalath, aap teek ho, PS? Kuch toh bathayiyeh na. Mujhe dar lag ri hai"

Anokhi knelt before him and asked while holding his hands in hers. Shaurya stared down at her with a painful gaze and let his tears down in front of her. He tugged Anokhi's arms indicating her to come up to him.

Anokhi was shocked to see Shaurya's state, her own eyes tearing up. As she sat next to Shaurya in bed, she was taken aback when he pulled her in a hug, his arms around her and his head on her shoulder, crying his heart out.

"PS" She tried to break the hug so that she can see Shaurya's face but he held onto her more and tightened his grip.

"PS" Anokhi called again, this time her own voice breaking as her body echoed with Shaurya's cry, her one hand holding his head while the other on his shoulder.

"PS aap mujhe dekhiyeh na" Anokhi said trying to be strong but her eyes betrayed her as tears flow down her cheeks.

Shaurya nodded his head sideways in a no and tighten his hold around Anokhi, burying his face into her neck. Anokhi held onto Shaurya and let her tears out. Seeing him in pain broke her.

Anokhi has lot of questions but letting him cry would be better. Anokhi let him cry, to take out his pain. She felt him crying against her softly as she caressed his hair, trying to comfort him. He was burning and she noticed it. After few minutes, Anokhi felt that Shaurya has slept in her arms.

Anokhi carefully placed Shaurya in the bed and covered him in the duvet. She caressed his hair with her left hand and with her right she wiped his tears. Shaurya looked fragile, his face screamed of what he went through. Puffy eyes, dull and tired face, messed up hair, crushed old dress and his weak form burning with fever.

"I can't see you like this PS" Anokhi cried and stood up.

Anokhi stood by his side for few minutes, thinking of what to do next. She placed a call to doctor and gave him the address. Clearing her tears, she walked out of the room and found the old maid in kitchen. Her name is Shanthi.

"Namaste. Meri naam Anokhi hai. Kya aap meri madath karenge?" Anokhi asked the old lady while stammering, her eyes still moist.

"Bolo beta, kya hua?"

"Voh Shaurya sir is burning with fever and he looks really bad. Mein ne doctor ko bulaliya hai. But is there something I can do in mean time?" Anokhi's voice reduced to tears.

"Don't cry, beta. Shaurya will be okay soon. You dab his forehead with cold water. His temperature would reduce eventually. He hasn't eaten anything since yesterday. I'll prepare soup for him now''

"Do you know what happened to him?" Anokhi agreed and was about to walk away but paused to ask the old woman.

"He came here two days back. I wasn't there but others said he looked very disturbed, crying and angry. He ordered everyone to leave him alone. He didn't open up even when his father or sister-in-law came to see him. I managed to give him food but I knew he didn't eat much. His mother came yesterday to meet him but he refused her too. He didn't open the door to my call too. I don't know what happened with him but he's messed up, beta"

Anokhi nodded weakly at the old lady trying to process everything as she walked towards Shaurya's room with a bowl of cold water and cloth. She sat by Shaurya and took care of him, her mind with hundred questions.

Within sometime doctor came. He checked Shaurya and gave him a shot. He prescribed few medicines and asked Anokhi to take care of Shaurya. After doctor left, Anokhi let the workers clean the room while she stayed by Shaurya's side.

Once they are done, Anokhi sat next to Shaurya in the bed and caressed his hair while he slept, both under medication and exhaustion. She looked up when she heard a noise. She found Shaan standing by the door. Shaan was notified by Kanchan that Anokhi has left to meet Shaurya and he rushed there.

Anokhi slowly moved away from Shaurya after covering him with the duvet. Shaan signaled her to come out of the room and she did.

"Anokhi, what happened to Shaurya? Teek hai na voh?"

"Shaan sir, he has fever. Don't worry, doctor checked him and gave him injection. He's sleeping"

Shaan visibly relaxed.

"Sir, kya hua Shaurya sir ko? He was pretty messed up when I found him"

Shaan hesitated but then opened up to Anokhi about everything. Anokhi couldn't believe her own ears. Her eyes teared up thinking about what Shaurya must have went through. Shaan himself was broken. Anokhi asked him to sit down and tried to comfort him. All a sudden they heard Shaurya screaming her name.

Startled Anokhi and Shaan rushed to Shaurya's room. She was by Shaurya's side while Shaan stopped by the door. Shaurya looked at Anokhi's face before pulling her into his embrace. He asked her where she was and she said she was just getting his food ready.

"Mujhe lagatha ki tum bhi mujhe chodke chali gayi thi" Shaurya said in a broken tone.

Shaan heard what Shaurya said and left from there with tears. He didn't have it in him to witness his son in this way. In the end, he's also one of the main reason for his son's state.

"Mein kahi nahi gayi" Anokhi assured him by breaking the hug and staring into his eyes "Aur kahi jaongi bhi nahi aap ko chodke"

"Sach mein?" Shaurya asked in such a broken tone that Anokhi can't help but tear up.

"Even if you ask me to, I won't" Anokhi confessed "I love you with all my heart and soul, PS. I won't leave your side, come what may. Not today, not in future. Never"

Shaurya stared at Anokhi, his eyes filled with tears, love and a hint of distrust.

"What if you abandon me too?" Shaurya's tone was just a mere painful whisper.

"I won't. I w-"

"My own parents abandoned me when I was just 4, Anokhi" Shaurya said in a broken tone "My mother, for whatever reasons it may be, she abandoned me. And my father? He started drinking so much that he neglected me through out my life. I was broken back then, trying to hold onto my father and yearning for my mother. But she never came back and he never cared. Badi maa and Bade papa started taking care of me, raising me as their own. Everyone in the Sabherwal mansion started loving me but they could never fill the void in my heart. I believed my Badi maa filled it but who am I lying to? I could never... and today? Badi maa... who raised and loved me as her own son... Bade papa... you know what names he called me? He tagged me as a charity! The love they gave me was out of pity! I was nothing but a burden, a selfish, ungrateful person. He rubbed my childhood trauma right at my face. I couldn't believe. Alok chaha said I was a disappointment. They humiliated dad. Those people who I love, my family... Badi maa even said that you would leave me, just like my mother did... No one would stay by my side. Tum bhi chale jaogi..."

"No! Yeh sach nahi hai. She's wrong. Mein kahi nahi jaongi aap ko chod ke. Kabhi nahi, trust me" Anokhi said while Shaurya shook his head in disbelief.

"Holi ke din kaha gayi thi tum?" Shaurya asked with a dry laugh "Pagalon ke tarah tumhe dhundraha tha. Dar gaya tha. Agar kuch bath thi toh mujhse puch leti. Aese ignore kyun kiya mujhe? Tum bhi mujhe chod ke jaana chathi thi kya?"

Anokhi was taken aback for a minute. How will she explain to him about what she felt those days? But she tried. She told him about what he saw and how hurt she was. But she also said how she wanted to clear things with him and get a closure.

"PS, be it any relationship or bond, everyone would face problems. There would be fights, misunderstandings but what matters is that both shouldn't let go of each other. The trust they have on each other, their understanding and love would bring them back no matter what. This is what I believe in. I was hurt that day but I realized that I trusted you more than what meets my eyes and ears. I love you and that brought me here. Believe when I say I won't leave you or let me in and find yourself. I love you, PS. Pyaar karthi hoon aapse."

Anokhi's voice reduced to tears towards the end. Shaurya clasped Anokhi's face in his hands, his thumb wiping away her tears. He nodded his face in a no asking her not to cry while his own orbs slipped tears. He brought her face closer to his and placed his forehead against her. Both closed their eyes, felt each other's pain and tried to find solace in each other.

"Mujhe dar lag raha hai, Anokhi" Shaurya broke his silence, baring his fears in front of Anokhi "Whatever that happened, I don't know where I stand in life now. I was manipulated for 25 years by people I thought loved me. I was just a ... My parents who left me in this state ... I don't know If I could come into terms with what happened. My family's voice haunts me. My fears, my thoughts... I feel suffocating"

Anokhi said nothing but pull him in her embrace, comforting him. She ssh-ed him and caressed his hair, trying to calm him down.

"Everything will be fine soon" Anokhi said in a soft tone.

"Will they?" Shaurya broke the hug and looked at Anokhi.

Anokhi clasped Shaurya's face in her hands and brings his face closer. She nuzzled her nose along his and trailed it put to his forehead. She placed a deep kiss on his forehead and placed her forehead against his.

"It will"

Anokhi's thumbs wiped away his tears and caressed his cheeks, letting him know that she's there for him. She looked at his eyes with an assuring glance. Her presence conveyed what he wanted to hear, that things will be okay soon and even if they won't she would stand by him and together they'll pull through.

"I love you, Anokhi" Shaurya breathed through tears "Mujhe kabhi chod ke math jana. Promise me"

"I love you PS and I promise that I won't leave you. Kabhi nahi"

And with a kiss, Shaurya and Anokhi sealed their promise.

THE END