Author's note

Hey guys, hope you all are doing good. I know you all are waiting for Entwined but I have decided to put Entwined on hold. Entwined was originally written as a part of my Tamil side of stories on a couple called Ashaangi. It started as a TS but now I extended it as a separate book. Its still ongoing and I find it difficult to manage it at same time. So, I will continue Entwined once I'm done with the Tamil story.

For now, we'll start with this TS. I hope you like the story. Thank you for your patience and supporting my works.

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Shakhi TS Heart Me, Foe

Part One

Anokhi cursed softly under her breath as she balanced her umbrella at one hand and held her certificate file to herself safely not to let it get wet in the rain.

"Aaj hi yesa hona tha kya! Aaj meri interview hai aur aese baarish ho ri hay!" Anokhi grumbled as she looked out for any auto or cab so that she can reach her interview soon, "There will be autos on road every second par aaj ek bhi nahi hai!!"

Anokhi has an interview for lecturer at one of the reputed Arts & Science college at Kapurthala. She's an English graduate and looking forward to join at the college where she did her under graduation.

Groaning in annoyance, Anokhi kept trying to book a cab when her eyes fell on a taxi at a distance. Relief flooded her senses as she grabbed her files closer to herself and rushed towards the cab in a hurry.

Just as Anokhi reached the cab and placed her hand on the cab door, someone from the other side placed their hand on the same cab door as well. When she opened the cab door, with seven billion people + in the whole wide world, she was greeted with the sight of her fellow undergraduate collegemate with whom she always gets into arguments; Shaurya Sabharwal.

'Curse my luck' Anokhi thought as she watched Shaurya, ignoring her, sat inside the cab.

"Bhaiya, mein ne pehle aayithi!" Anokhi gritted her teeth on looking at Shaurya before looking at the cab driver as she sat in.

"Nahi, mam, yeh-" The cab driver started but Anokhi cut him off in middle.

"Kya yeh voh keh rahe hain, aap ne mirror dekha hoga na. Mein ne pehle aayi thi bhaag ke!"

"Haan, penguin ke jaise bhaag ke aayi hogi!" Shaurya who was silent the whole while broke his silence and said with a mocking smirk. He muttered under his breath, "Shortie"

It's not like Shaurya and Anokhi met after their UG. Kapurthala wasn't much big of a city for them to not run into each other. They even saw each other last week at Rajaji park, one of famous park in Kapurthala. She glared at him when he saw her with a mocking smile and a wink before he walked away. That memory was still fresh in both their mind.

"Abey! Tu chup rahiyo! Mein tujse baath nahi kar rahi hoon! Mein driver bhaiya se bol rahi hoon!" Anokhi glared at Shaurya who tried to bit back her smile. She then turned to cab driver, "Bhaiya, mujhe ek zaruri kaam hai, jaldi jaana hai. Mein aap ko double pay karvavungi. Aab isse neeche jaane ko kahiyeh"

"Whar??! Mein kyun jao?! Yeh mera ride hai!" Shaurya grumbled and glared at Anokhi, "Dekh Anokhi, mujhe bhi zaruri kaam hai. Koyi aur cab leke chali jana. Yeh mera ride hai!"

Shaurya and Anokhi started to bicker making the cab driver to look back and forth at them before the cab driver finally had enough and burst out.

"Aap dhono chup ho jao!!" The cab driver yelled making both Anokhi and Shaurya to turn silent. He then turned towards Anokhi, "Dekhiye mam, unhonhe hi pehle aaye the. Yeh unka ride hai. Aap koyi aur cab dekhlo. Uthariyeh"

Anokhi glared at both the cab driver and Shaurya before she grumbled and got out of the cab. She watched the cab go away and flared in anger.

"Iss ka guroor ab tak kam hi nahi hua! Che!" Anokhi groaned aloud.

Anokhi did her UG at Cavel Arts & Science college, Kapurthala. Shaurya was from her same English department. While she was a self-finance student (because in that college aided department was for only men), he was from aided and just like every college, both aided and SF doesn't get along.

Being representative of their respective classes, Shaurya and Anokhi had to work together for cultural programmes or any other programmes of the department. They had lot of difference of opinion and the hatred between aided and SF kept growing that whenever they talk, they end up arguing.

While Shaurya takes pleasure in arguing with Anokhi, annoying her, she hates the sight of him. She was sore about leaving her college to another one for her PG but bright spot was she was free from Shaurya.

Despite that, Shaurya and Anokhi seem to run into each other in the city every now and then in the past three years. Just last week, right after they saw each other, she prayed that he shouldn't come in front of her but he not only came in front of her but also managed to mess up her schedule.

Sulking, Anokhi stared at her watch. The rain has stopped by then. She saw an auto going that way. She quickly got in and hoped that she makes it for the interview on time. They only have one vacancy and she needed to get in her old college.

When Anokhi reached her department, interview time was over and that they had already selected someone. To her shock and annoyance, it was Shaurya making her annoyance reach heights.

Since Anokhi was an old student, she spoke with the HOD and has managed to get an interview for herself but with a catch that only when a vacancy opens up, they'll call her. She agreed and gave her best and she was selected.

But just as she came out, Anokhi saw Shaurya chatting with one of their old professors. Her dislike on him grew realizing she couldn't make it on time, thanks to him and he now has her job. Had she taken the cab first, she would have got selected!

Anokhi looked around her college with a pout. She was really looking forward to work here. It was her wish to work here and her wish only came true after four months when a vacancy finally opened up and she was offered the job.

On her first day, Anokhi met with her fellow colleagues save for Shaurya who was at Maths department for language class. Some of her colleagues were her seniors while others were her professors. So, she gelled with them easily. She was asked to meet the HOD who welcomed her warmly.

Since it was even semester beginning, staffs were asked to give their name under their subject of choice they wish to handle. Anokhi took the register with a wide smile and decided to put her name under History of English Literature (HEL) and British Literature for 1st year class.

The smile on Anokhi's face turned into frown when she saw Shaurya already gave his name under HEL and already a senior professor's name was at top. As an old student she knew only two course teachers handle HEL and with a senior professor name, it'll be either Shaurya or Anokhi who'll get the course paper to handle.

'Yeh hamesha mere route pe kyun cross kartha hai!'

Gritting her teeth, Anokhi wrote her name under HEL and under British Literature for 1st year and choose other subjects for rest of two years. Thinking the department only decide what's best, she convinced herself.

Anokhi took class for second year students. She introduced herself and they welcomed her, some warmly while some were fascinated by her and rest either intrigued or finding fault with her voice.

By the end of the class, to say Anokhi managed to earn some devoted students would be an understatement. Most liked her nature and gelled with her. Since she wasn't assigned anything to teach yet, she mostly spoke with them about movies and web series keeping everyone entertained.

"I still think Jon Snow (from Game of thrones) deserved better" Anokhi would say and the whole class falls into discussion of the same.

When Anokhi went to final year classroom, she used the same strategy and instead of Game of Thrones, she said,

"So, what do you all think about Money Heist? Worth the hype or overrated?"

After two fun filled classes when Anokhi came to the department, she was greeted by the sight of students circling around a professor. She smiled at the sight and went on the opposite seat to sit.

Only then Anokhi realized that it was Shaurya on her opposite and the smile on her face dropped as her eyes met with his. There was a mischievous glint in his face that didn't went missing from her eyes when he winked at her. She gasped softly and averted her gaze.

'Besharam! Ghamand toh dekho iski' Anokhi balled her fists.

"Students, yeh aap ki nayi professor hai, Ms. Anokhi Bhalla. Met her?" Shaurya asked to no one in particular and the students answered enthusiastically.

"I really liked your class mam" A boy said and Anokhi smiled at him.

"Boliyeh, ma'am, humhare bacche kaise hai" Shaurya asked looking straight at Anokhi with an eyebrow raised while a teasing smile stayed on his lips.

"Be it the time I studied here or now, SF ke students toh sone hai, sir. Aided students hi monkey stunts karenge jaise tab students the" Anokhi said giving a bright smile and thought, 'Like you'

Shaurya bit his lower lip as he bit back a smirk and stared at Anokhi before winking at her,

"Agar aap ne kaha toh teek hi hoga, ma'am"

Anokhi gave a tight smile, excused herself and walked away mumbling, "Besharam!"

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Thank you for reading,

Nan ~