Author's note: Hey guys! I have a request. As you all know, SAAKK's trp has decreased and makers might pull the plug if this continues. SAAKK has made me write again after ages and I have come to love a ITV show so much after IPKKND. I don't want SAAKK to end. Please do watch SAAKK on TV at 7 pm. Report fan pages that posts episodes early and re-watch old episodes. Try not to skip scenes while watching. Suggest SAAKK to your family and friends. SAAKK team is working hard in this tough time for us. Let's do our bit to save our show.

Shakhi SS Marriage Of Convenience 

Chapter Seven

"Sir yeh aap kya keh rahe hain?" Anokhi was shocked by Shaurya's decision. (Sir, what are you saying?)

"Anokhi, teek hi keh raha hoon. Hum yahan nahi rahenge" (Anokhi, I'm saying what's best for us. We won't stay here)

"Lekin sir, sab ko kya kahenge? Shaan si-" (But what will you say to everyone? Shaan si-)

"Anokhi, I need no argument on this topic" His tone was soft "I'm tired of all the lies, manipulation and toxic environment. I need a place where I can breathe peacefully, where I can feel myself at ease, where I can live without fear of people manipulating me. I need an escape from reality, the lie which my family made me live for 25 years. I need time to process everything. I feel suffocated here, Anokhi. I can't think anything beyond Badi maa's lie. I want to think of Maa but I keep thinking about Badi maa. She raised me as her own for 25 years. She cared for me, comforted me when I was alone, loved me, supported me, did everything a mother would do. Now that I think of that I tremble at the very thought that she was the root of all my sufferings. I can't... I want... I want to escape from here, Anokhi. I ju-"

Shaurya tried his best to control his pain but when he speaks about it, he felt the pain eating him alive. He chocked on his words, tears slipping out of his eyes. Anokhi's eyes teared up. She moved closer to him and held his hands, stopping him in middle.

"Sir, aap shaa –"

Anokhi tried to comfort him. Shaurya held on to Anokhi and cried his heart out which stopped her from saying anything. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into her embrace.

"Mujhe yehan nahi rehna Anokhi" His voice was shaky and broken. (I don't want to stay here, Anokhi)

"Teek hai, we'll move out tomorrow morning"

Shaurya tightened his hold around Anokhi while she patted his back in one hand and caressed his hair with the other. She let him cry out his pain. If this will make him better then so be it. They both stayed in that position, comforting one another in silence.

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"Kitne dher ho gayi hai. Shaurya ab tak neeche nahi aaya" (It's very late. Shaurya didn't come down yet )

Devi paced in the living room, waiting for Shaurya while Tej was reading newspaper and Alok had his morning tea. Gayatri and Kanchan were busy in the kitchen. Shaan was still at Kapurthala.

"Don't worry, Devi. He'll be down soon" Tej replied, without taking his eyes off the newspaper.

"Lekin ithni dher ho gayi hai. Shaurya never comes down late" There was a panic in Devi's tone "Shall I go to his room and check?"

"Koyi zarurat nahi hai. Baccha thodi hai. Aa jayega" (No need. He is not a kid. He'll come)

Before Devi could say anything, two servants came down the stairs with bags. They brought it down and placed it down the stairs.

"Hareey, yeh kya hai?" Alok asked "Kis ke samaan hai?" (What is this? Whose bags are these?)

"Mere aur Anokhi ke" Shaurya announced his presence. (Anokhi and mine's)

Devi was shocked by his words. Tej tore his gaze away from the newspaper. Shaurya walked down the stairs with Anokhi right behind him. He tried his best to maintain

"Tum log kahan ja rahe ho, Shaurya?" Devi asked, puzzled and panicked. (Where are you two going, Shaurya?)

"Aap log yeh samaan ko Malkan ke paas le jao" He instructed the servants, who took the bags and left. He then turned towards Devi "I'm moving out with Anokhi, Badi maa" (You guys take these bags to Malkan)

"Shaurya!" Devi felt the ground beneath her feet slipping away.

"Shaurya, yeh tum kya keh rahe ho puttar?" Alok was on his feet while Tej was taken aback with Shaurya's words. (Shaurya, what are you saying son?)

"Bade papa" He ignored others and turned towards Tej, who studied Shaurya carefully "I want to move out of Sabherwal mansion with Anokhi for time being. Agar aap-"

By now Gayatri and Kanchan came out of the kitchen. They were equally shocked as of others.

"Shaurya! Kya ho gaya hai tumhe?! Move out karna chathe ho? Kyun? Tum kyun jaoge? Mujhe dekho, aese kyun keh rahe ho beta?" Devi held Shaurya's arm, turning him towards her "Tum Shaurya Sabherwal ho, yahi tumhara ghar hai. Tum yahi rahega, apdi Badi maa ke sath. Tum mere bete ho. Mujhe chod ke kaise jaoge" (Shaurya, what are you saying? You want to move out? Why? Why would you go? Look at me, why are you talking like this? You are Shaurya Sabherwal. This is your house. You'll stay here, with your Badi maa. You are my son. How will you go leaving me?)

"Mein move out karna chatha hoon Badi maa aur karunga bhi" Shaurya said determined while Devi flinched at his tone "I have my reasons and I request you people to respect my decision" (I want to move out and I will Badi maa)

"Shaurya, tum Bhabhi se is tarah kyun bath kar rahe ho?" Alok said while Devi hasn't recovered from her shock yet "Aur kyun move out karna chathe ho? Kounsa reasons hai?" (Shaurya, why are you talking like this to Bhabhi?. Why do you want to move out? What reason?)

"Mein b-" Shaurya's control over his feelings was on the verge of slipping away. Anokhi noticed this and held his arm to refrain him from saying anything he might regret later.

"Zaroor is Anokhi ne kuch kaha hoga mere bete se!" Devi threw an accusing glare at Anokhi, who got startled by such an accusation "Warna mere beta kabi aese nahi ketha!" (This Anokhi would have said something to my son. If not he would never say like this)

"Anokhi ko beech mein math layiyeh, Badi ma" Shaurya snapped. Everyone got shocked with the way Shaurya was reacting. (You don't drag Anokhi between this, Badi maa)

"Shaurya..." Devi looked at Shaurya, not believing her ears that her Shaurya's talking with her in this way.

"This is completely my decision. I don't have any answers today, Badi maa. Aaj iski aage kuch kehne nahi wala par ek din-" (Today I won't speak further but one day-)

"Shaurya" Tej finally broke his silence "Agar tum yahi chathe ho toh tum Anokhi ke sath move out kar sakthey ho" (Shaurya, if you want to, you can move out with Anokhi)

Everyone was surprised by Tej's decision, including Shaurya and Anokhi. Shaurya just wanted an escape from this place but he didn't think it through. He didn't want to confront anyone unless he's in a right state of mind. So, he controlled himself from saying anything about the letter or Astha.

"Tej yeh kya bol rahe ho? Usse rok ne ke bajai aap ne isse jaane ke liye permission deh rahe hain!" Devi walked to Tej and tried to reason with him. She can't afford to lose Shaurya! She can't live without him "Stop him! My Shaurya can't leave me" (Tej what are you saying? Instead of stopping him, you are giving him permission to leave!)

"Bas" Tej silenced Devi with a glare "Shaurya, mujhe nahi patha ki tum kyun jana chathe ho par yeh ummeedh kartha hoon ki tum wapas jald aayega. Tumhara jo bhi wajah hai ghar chodke jaane ka, yeh yaad rakhna ki tum ek Sabherwal ho. Tumhara jagah yahi issi ghar mein hai, hum sab ke paas hai. Jis din voh yehsaas aaye, wapas aa jao" (Enough. Shaurya I don't know why you want to go but I hope that you'll come back soon. Whatever reasons you may have for leaving SM, just remember that you're a Sabherwal and you belong here, in this house, with us. The day you feel the same, come back)

Tej, who has studied Shaurya from the start has analyzed that something has hurt Shaurya deeply. The way Shaurya behaved with Devi, that stubbornness he saw in his eyes, Tej didn't want to say something which will make Shaurya behave in the same way with him. He has a certain degree of respect being the head of the Sabherwals and he didn't want it to be questioned. He said what he wanted to say and left the living room without another word, showing how unhappy he is with Shaurya's decision. Alok left, following Tej.

Devi was terrified on hearing Tej's words. She didn't want Shaurya to leave the house. Her whole existence revolves around Shaurya. Her mind was filled with thousand questions as of why Shaurya wants to leave and why he is behaving this way with her.

'Kahi Shaurya aur Astha ek toh nahi hogaye hai?' The very thought disturbed Devi. (Has Shaurya and Astha got united?)

While Devi was immersed in her thoughts, Shaurya and Anokhi bid their bye to Gayatri and Kanchan.

"Shaurya, tum mat jao!" Devi said with tears when Shaurya and Anokhi came in front of her. (Shaurya don't go)

"Mein ab ja raha hoon, Badi maa" Shaurya said "Lekin wapas zaroor aaonga. Tab mere paas bahat sawal hoyega. Uska jawab dena math bhul na" (I'm going, Badi maa. But I'll come back for sure. I would have lot of questions. Don't forget to answer them)

Devi was even more confused by Shaurya, her thoughts messing her mind. Before she could process everything, she saw Shaurya and Anokhi walking out of the Sabherwal mansion.

Tears slipped Shaurya's eyes as he looked back at his Badi maa looking at him with longing eyes. It wasn't tears of love but of hurt, the feeling of being betrayed by someone you thought the highest of and loved the deepest. Devi waited for Shaurya to come back to her but he turned around and walked out of the mansion along with Anokhi, leaving a broken Devi behind.

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Hey guys, hope you have enjoyed reading the chapter. Do let me know what you think of the story so far. Thank You.

Nan ~