Chapter 13

Anya Riasha Singh

@RKDEWAANA

I was going to make this two chapters but...

Lol you just going to get one long chapter.

ENJOY.

Chapter 13

Mehek wondered what the time was when she finally went outside. The rain had stopped, yet the air was incredibly moist. There was an expensive car outside her small apartment. Mehek knew it was him. She looked at the plain black strapped watch on her wrist. She had missed his precious dead line.

"Where were you? Shaurya asked her, irritation lacing his voice. She somehow found herself unable to tell him, that rain terrified her since... She just looked at him silently.

He grabbed her by her arms and shook her.

"Answer me He demanded. Mehek pushed his hands away.

"I was on the bus I lost track of the time She said finally, He eyed her with disbelief. His hand on her tightened.

"Do you really expect me to believe that? He asked her, Mehek blinked. Ironic wasn't it that now he did not believe her. Mehek pushed his hands away.

"What do you think I was doing selling my soul to someone else just to pay you back Mehek told him with a grim smile. He grabbed her chin roughly.

"Soul? I would think your body would get you more money He said spitefully. Mehek heard the sky rumble and rubbed her hands over her arms. Would it rain again? The irrational fear chocked her. She opened her bag and started searching frantically for her keys, her slipped from her fingers. The sky rumbled again, she found it hard to breath.

"What the hell... He held his hands over her fingers. Mehek's could not breath.

"I can't breath Mehek told him, her eyes watered.

He pulled her against him and her mind cleared the fear vanished. All she felt was her heart beat thundering against her chest.

"You were having a panic attack

"I am afraid of the rain please just tell me whatever you need to inside. I-I- I can't out here Mehek said, He picked her keys up and handed it to her. Mehek opened the gate and allowed him inside. He followed her inside the old building. Finally, when they were at her door. Mehek realised she was holding his hand, she let go and opened her door. He went inside first and she could tell he hated it.

"How can you stay in a place like this, it smells like pee He said, he took to casual steps and because of how tall he was, that was all he could take. She sat down and curled into a ball.

She wanted to rest. That was all she wanted, she wanted to rewind the day.

She closed her eyes and leaned backwards.

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6 years ago

It was ice cold. Mehek's hands shook. As she heard the sound outside again. Shaurya had left today. He had taken Karuna ma and left. Without a word, without a goodbye. Just like that. She had never felt more alone in her life. It sounded like someone was downstairs. Her fingers tightened over a picture of Shaurya she had been looking at. She had given up everything, for him to be happy. Everything! She loved him so much. So much.

The rain had never stopped from that day. Mehek's door flung open. Sandeep stood there. He was drunk. She quickly moved away from the side of the room.

"Hello Mehek, guess who He slurred out to her. He noticed the picture in her hand.

"What's that? He asked. Mehek kept moving backwards until her back hit the wall. Sandeep grabbed her wrist with so much force and ripped the photo from her fingers. He looked at it and his brows furrorwed.

"So this is the reason why you won't go out with me? Or wear my ring? He asked her, He smelt like alcohol and cigarettes the smell made her heave. She pushed him away with as much force as she could. But he was over 40 kgs bigger than her. He grabbed her by her arms and lifted her into the air as if she were a doll that weighed nothing.

Mehek tried to kick him. He threw her onto her bed and her head hit the edge of her headboard the room spun. She felt blood ooze down the side of her head. He was going to hurt her more if she did not do something.

This time there would be no one that would save her. She jumped of the bed, and ran to the door he grabbed her ankle and twisted it and Mehek fell on the floor, so hard she almost blacked out. She kicked at him. She would not give up.

She kicked and kicked until he fell down and dragged herself out of her room. She ran out into the hall and she heard something sickening. The rain fell heavier outside.

Snow flake, barked at him. He picked her up and threw her against the wall. The sound of her scream, made Mehek want to vomit it happened so fast Mehek barely could process what was happening. She went into her fathers study and locked the door. She went to the phone but the lines were down. Because the rain was so bad outside.

Mehek could not walk and she could hear him outside the door kicking at it. For the first time in her life she was thankful that her father had bought a solid oak door.

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Morning came and so did her parents. She had to be rushed to the hospital. Snowflake had to be put down. She had failed to protect snowflake.

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Her father never once, even after seeing her in that state spoke of breaking the engagement. Mehek went home after a week, and no matter how much she tried to get out of meeting Sandeep, he would be there would flowers or chocolates apologising. Mehek's mother had some charity to do in Africa so, she had left for that and hired a nurse to look after her. Mehek missed Karuna ma so much.

She would have killed Sandeep for this. Mehek missed Shaurya too, she missed making him angry. She missed seeing his face turn red with anger.

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Then it happened, Sandeep refused to marry her. Her father was furious.

"Mehek why would he refuse? He wanted to marry you so badly now why did he refuse? What did you do? He asked her, Mehek blinked and wondered if he was even her father at all? She had no energy to even fight with him. She just stared at the wall blankly.

Initially Mehek had thought nothing of Sandeep's refusal until she got a phone call from him.

"Your beggar boyfriend may have stopped me now. But Mehek you will be mine Mehek blinked, what did he mean?  

"What? Who?

"Your precious Shaurya whose photo you look at all the time...

Mehek's chest tightened.

"How long will he watch over you Mehek? Mehek felt light headed. Shaurya had saved her again. But there was no way he could have known what Sandeep had done to her, unless he did not want to save her. He just ruined her engagement. Why would he do that and how did he do that? What could he have done to make someone like Sandeep sound scared?

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Now.

"So what do you choose Mehek She looked at him and wondered after all of these years, how could he still make her heart beat so fast. He had broken so many of her engagements, and ruined so many things yet she bore not a single ill thought towards him. She still wanted to just slide into his lap and bury her face into his neck. she felt embarrassingly cold. She had given her only jersey to Sonal in the morning, she was much thinner and got really sick when it was cold. Shaurya looked at her with distaste Mehek blinked and just sat there.

"How is Karuna ma? She asked, she missed her so much. So much. Mehek would have easily given up everything to see her one more time. But she knew that everything she had would probably never be enough. He would never let her see her again.

His expression changed.

"The house keeper? You suddenly care about her? He said harshly. Mehek shivered again and he removed his jacket and threw it at her.

Then his expression grew angry.

"Why did Ajay phone me and tell me you are going to marry him and that he would pay me back He asked her angrily. Mehek blinked why would Ajay do that? He was still trying to save her.

"I... It was on her lips to deny it.

"Do you really think I will allow you to marry him? He said, Mehek put his jacket down and he eyed her possessively.

He picked it up and placed it over her shoulders. It smelled like him and was warm and soft inside. He touched her cheek, running his fingertips over it.

His eyes were dark and unreadable.

"Your face is still so innocent He let go of her and looked away. Mehek looked up at him and he stared at her wall.

"Ajay has enough money to pay me back Mehek, that maybe true but I will never let you go. I came here to tell you that. You will never ever be happy as long as I live. I will make sure that you suffer everyday

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9 years ago

It was Mehek's birthday. Her father had thrown her the largest party. Mehek wore a pink ball gown. Princess themed. There was a sea of people invited. Yet the two people she had wanted the most to be with her, were not there. The formalities of the evening had just finished and Mehek saw her parents were busy. She snuck out into the servant quarters. Mehek knocked on the door and Karuna ma saw her standing there and frowned.

"Mehek you should be at your party She told her, Mehek went inside, Shaurya was writing something at his table. He looked up when he saw her, and his eyes widened.

"You look more like a princess than usual He said.

"Karuna ma, it's my birthday right? Mehek said, Karuna ma nodded.

"Can't I stay here with you? She asked hugging her. Karuna ma shook her head.

 "Mom this daughter of your annoys me I am going to sleep Shaurya said and closed his books and picked his stuff up.

"Its my birthday you should be nice to me on my birthday at least Mehek told him, Shaurya grabbed the end of her dress.

"Don't you ever wonder who made these, if there was child labour? He asked her with a frown. Mehek twirled and her hair hit his cheek.

"Don't ruin my birthday

Mehek sat on the floor and the dress gathered all around the floor and she looked like a big pink ball.

Karuna ma had given her a gift early that morning it was a box of handmade cookies. Mehek had already had half of them and nothing else.

"I am so hungry Karuna ma, can I get something to eat She asked. Karuna ma gave Shaurya an envelope.

"I saved this for that class trip of yours...

Mehek wondered what class trip?

"Mom keep it I don't need to go for it...

"Shaurya please go for it you worked so hard for it

"I won't use that money on it He pushed the envelope back at Karuna ma and walked off.

Karuna ma gave her some food and as she fixed one of Shaurya's shirts.

"Karuna ma what trip do you want Shaurya to go for She asked her. Karuna ma smiled at her.

"You remember that He won that software design competition so they called him to go on a trip but they wanted fees for it She said looking worried. Mehek wondered if she could somehow do something. It was unfair for a student to have to pay for a trip, after winning a competition. She suddenly got an idea.

"I have an idea She told her.

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Mehek watched Shaurya from across the hall at school. He walked towards her and stopped in front of her.

"I cannot believe you complained to the principal about this He said looking embarrassed Mehek rolled her eyes. Well she knew if she complained, the principal would be terrified of her father and then in turn Shaurya would be able to go.

"I have no idea what you are speaking off Mehek blinked innocently.

"I have no idea why you are bent on making my life so good, Papa send Shaurya to my school too, he is so clever he will be the star there imagine how people would think your were so kind for sending him there, papa send you should buy Shaurya that computer because imagine how people would think you were so kind. I hate this interfering need you have over my life. Stay away from me, I don't want your charity

Mehek wanted him to be happy. She ignored the annoyance she saw in his face and pinched his cheek.

"Karuna ma wants to see you go and I knew you would never take her money. So I helped you out a bit what's the big deal? He pushed her hand away and grabbed her arm and shook her.

"Why do you want to be the driving force behind my success so bad? He asked her, Mehek pulled her arm away.

"Its not like that Shaurya I just want you to be happy

"Sometimes I get worried, thinking about what you would do in this chakar of making me happy He said annoyed.

"Stay away from me He warned her. Mehek ignored him and twirled away.

He was the cutest when he was angry. She thought to herself after a while he would be normal again, and she would see him being indifferent again.

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Mehek looked at all the puppies in the pen.

"Papa can I really get one She asked? Her father looked at the puppies with slight distaste.

"No Mehek I am allergic to dogs Her father looked completely normal. Mehek looked at him and frowned. Shaurya was slightly behind them.

Her father had forced him to come with them so that he could show off to his partners that he had raised him up. His face was blank, but Mehek knew that he hated every minute of it.

"Please papa, I would never let you see it She begged, he ignored her and moved off. Mehek bent down and looked at the puppies longingly a pretty white pug jumped pushing all the other pups out of the way and looked at her longingly.

"Someone that actually likes you Shaurya told her from behind her, Mehek knew he was still angry about the trip. He had refused to go for it. So the principal had given him money, as a prize or something like that. Mehek looked up at him and wondered what would take his mind of this awful party.

"Why do they have puppies like this? Mehek asked him, confused, she picked the white one up and it tried to kiss her. Mehek held her to her chest and ran her fingers under her chin.

"Oh aren't you beautiful? She said to the puppy. Shaurya looked at white pug with mild disinterest.

"If that is beautiful to you no wonder Ajay is your best friend He said plainly, Mehek hit his arm.

"Pugs are cute. Ajay is a good person She defended.

Shaurya started to laugh.

"Oh my god He looked at her and his eyes shone. He was so beautiful when he smiled, yet he hardly ever did.

"Being a good person and looking good is too different things He said, Mehek wondered what he meant and why he kept laughing.

"I think the owner is breeding them. Pugs are really expensive He told her.

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"Mehek stop it just let go of it

"Please papa can I keep it Mehek begged. She had already named it snowflake. Shaurya looked like he wished he could be anywhere but there in that moment.

"I will not pay for that thing, just leave it He told her taking it from her and dropping it on the floor. Snowflake followed her whining loudly. Mehek started to cry. She knew she was making a scene but she could not help it. As the dog tried to follow her, her father turned around and picked it up. He threw it harshly into the pen. Mehek gasped and pushed her father away.

"You hurt it papa, how could you? Her father grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the party.

For the next week she was not allowed to show her face to him, after embarrassing him so much.

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Mehek looked at her bed, on her bed in the middle was a box. She heard a whimper inside and opened it. Snow flake jumped out and Mehek picked her up and hugged her. Next to the box was a note.

Keep it, safe Mehek. I know you are brainless but atleast look after her. -Shaurya.

PS: I asked your father, about it, he said as long as he did not pay for it or see it. You could keep it.

Mehek held her in her arms and ran down the steps. She went right past Karuna ma.

"Karuna ma where is Shaurya

"He is studying... Mehek went straight into to servant quarters and knocked on the door.

He opened the door and looked at her with frown. Mehek let snowflake go and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Thank you! She said he caught her as she was several inches shorter than him. He let her down gently on the ground.

"I returned a favour there is no need for you to come here... He said. He had probably used his prize money to buy her for her. Mehek did not let go of him. She closed her eyes. And pretended she did not hear what he said.

TO BE CONTINUED...