“Par didi maine toh-”

(But di I did-)

She started denying that she hadn’t even touched alcohol when her jiju barged in the conversation.

“Harshu sahi keh rhi hai Anu. Shourya ne bataya hume. You had too many drinks.”

(Harshu is right Anu. Shourya told us.)

Shourya! He would know what happened.

“Shourya kaha hai?”

(Where is Shourya?)

“Office gaya hai wo.”

(He went to the office.)

“Mai bhi nikalti hu. Already late hu aaj.”

(I will also leave. I am already late.)

“It’s ok. Tum rest kro aaj.”

(You rest today.)

Mohit intervened but Anokhi shook her head. She needed to get the answers.

“Nhi jijs. Thik hu mai. Aise bina matlab chhuti nhi le skti.”

(No jijs. I am fine. I can’t take leaves without reason.)

Anokhi rushed to get ready for work and hailed a cab.

As soon as she stepped inside her office, the murmurs started. She felt eyes on her and lowered her head.

Her colleagues, the ones she usually sat with, came to her.

“Tu thik hai? I’m sorry yaar. Hume pata hi nhi tha ki aisa kuch tha.”

(Are you ok? I’m sorry. We didn’t know it was like that.)

Anokhi got even more confused and asked.

“Kaise kuch tha? Mujhe kuch yaad nhi kal kya hua? Kya baat hai?”

(Like what? I don’t remember anything that happened yesterday? What is it?)

“Tujhe yaad nhi? Wo Nitish ne teri drink mai drugs milaye the. He wanted to…you know.”

(You know remember? That Nitish mixed drugs in your drink….)

She trailed off but Anokhi felt her blood run cold. Her entire body froze.

“D-drugs? Meri drink mai? Jo maine pi thi? Usne…”

(In my drink? The one that I had? He…)

She couldn’t complete her question. Did he do something to her? Was that why people were whispering around her? Anokhi hugged herself and tears started forming in her eyes.

“Hey! Nothing happened. Wo jiske saath tu aati hai. That man! He found you on time. In fact, he saw Nitish mixing those drugs in your drinks. Wo aaya tha yaha aaj subha. And Nitish is fired with a notice of criminal proceedings against him.”

(The one you came here with…..He came this morning.)

Anokhi looked at her in shock. Shourya? He found her. He saved her. And he got Nitish fired.

She rushed out of her office and paced in front of his. She dialled his number and asked him to meet her outside.

Shourya came out in a hurry. 

“Tum yaha kya kr rhi ho? You should be at home.”

(What are you doing here?)

Anokhi didn’t think of anything else and just hugged him tightly. Shourya froze for a moment, until he heard her speak.

“Thank you! Thank you so much Shourya. Mai soch bhi nhi skti ki agar aap nhi hote toh kya ho jaata. I got so scared when they told me that Nitish mixed those d-drugs in my drink. Mujhe laga usne-”

(I cannot even think what could have happened had you not been there….I thought he-)

“Hey! Look at me!

Shourya cut her off when he felt her body shiver. He cupped her face and wiped her tears softly.

“Nothing happened. Aur kuch ho bhi nhi skta tha. Mai tha na. Mai hu na. Kuch nhi hoga. Ok? You’re safe. And he’s gone.”

(And nothing could have happened. I was there. I am here. Nothing will happen.)

She hugged him again and whispered thank yous over and over. He patted her back and caressed her head.

“And thank you. Didi ko sach nhi batane ke liye.”

(For not telling di the truth.)

“You don’t have to thank me. Bhabhi hai wo meri. Mere liye meri maa jaisi hai. Uncle aunty ko nhi bataya hai humne abhi. You decide what to do.”

(She is my Bhabhi. Like a mother to me. We haven’t told uncle aunty.)

She nodded. She knew her mother would immediately ask her to quit. She would tell them eventually but not now. She would tell them when the proceedings against Nitish started.

It was the last two days of Anokhi’s probation. She had received her official letter stating her permanent status from the upcoming week and the allotment of her apartment from the same day.

She would shift over the weekend. Just two more days and she would leave this place. She didn’t want to. She had made a great bond with everyone. Especially Shourya.

She was sniffing and wiping her tears which weren’t stopping as Shourya looked at her in amusement. He rubbed her back and chuckled.

“Aapko…aapko hasi aa rhi hai. I will miss everyone so much lekin aap…bilkul miss nhi kroge na mujhe.”

(You…you are laughing. I will miss everyone so much but you…you will not miss me at all.)

She sniffed and he sighed.

“Pagal ho tum bilkul. Aise ro rhi ho jaise vidaai ho rhi hai. 10 minute dur rehte hai hum. Silly woman!”

(You are crazy. You’re crying like it’s your marriag. We stay 10 minutes away.)

He whispered the last part and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, pulling her into a side hug. She rested her head against his shoulder and sniffed.

“Oyee pagal! Hum abhi bhi aamne saamne hi kaam kr rhe hai. Jab mann kre bula lena. Stop crying now!”

(Hey silly! We are still work neighbours. Call me whenever you want.)

He said with a chuckle when she didn’t stop sniffing. 

It was Saturday and Anokhi was supposed to shift the next day. She was packing her stuff while Harshali helped her.

They heard some noises from the living room and frowned at each other.

Anokhi helped Harshali towards the living room and frowned seeing Shourya’s mother hug another lady of her age with a wide smile on her face.

“Aaj toh tune surprise hi kr dia! Itne time baad. Kaisi hai?”

(You surprised us today! After so long. How are you?)

His mother asked the lady who smiled and answered.

“Mai toh ek dum thik hu. Tu kaisi hai? Aur bache kaise hai?”

(I am absolutely fine. How are you? And how are the kids?)

“Sab thik hai. Dadi banne wali hu ab toh mai. Harshali beta! Aao!”

(Everything is fine. I am going to be a grandmother. Harshali! Come here!)

Harshali smiled and went towards them. Anokhi understood that she might know who the lady was. Maybe it was one of Shourya’s mother’s friends.

“Congratulations beta! Khush raho hamesha! May God bless you!”

(Stay happy!)

The lady blessed Harshali who smiled. Anokhi noticed another woman, almost about her age standing beside the lady.

“Kaisi ho Kashish?”

(How are you Kashish?)

Harshali asked and Kashish smiled.

“Mai thik hu bhabhi. Congratulations!”

(I am fine Bhabhi.)

“Thank you.”

“Waise Shourya kaha hai?”

(Where is Shourya?)

The lady asked and Anokhi frowned when Kashish blushed. 

“Chhuti hai na. Kamre mai hoga apne.”

(It’s his off. He must be in his room.)

His mother called for Shourya who came out of his room 5 minutes later.

“Kya hua maa-”

(What happened maa-)

He stopped seeing the presence of the two ladies. He froze. How could he forget? 

“H-hello aunty. Umm…hi Kashish.”

He spoke while gazing at Anokhi for a brief moment. Kashish whispered a shy greeting back.

“Sharma rahe hai bache hamare saamne. Koi baat nhi. Aaram se baat krlo alag se. Waise bhi shaadi ke baad toh bhut si baatein krni hi hai.”

(The kids are getting shy in front of us. No worries. Talk privately. You’re going to talk a lot after marriage anyway.)

Kashish’s mother spoke and everyone except Anokhi, Shourya and Kashish laughed. Kashish blushed. Anokhi went numb and Shourya cursed himself in his mind.