Chapter 18

Hmm?

Chapter 18

Shaurya watched her as she slept. She never really complained about anything, these days like she would when she was younger. When she was younger and if she had been even thinking of being sick, the whole house would have landed down onto the floor. She was defeated like bird that had her wings ripped of her body. He traced the apple of her pale cheek with his finger. He didn't need to look up, to know his mother was there.

"I saw him, hit her the first time He heard her say, He felt sick.

"Why didn't you tell me?

"You were always in a different zone son, you never thought she would leave you, so you pushed her away because you liked having her, fighting her way and forcing herself to be around you. For you it was your success first always but for her it was different it was always you.

Guilt? Was that this hallow emptiness he felt? His mother was right! He had seen the marks on her face, he had not reacted the way he should have? Why had he not asked her?

"Why are you only telling me now?

"Because I want you to do something. I don't want that man to ever be able to touch her again

Shaurya's hands clenched.

"Why did you not tell me then? I would have protected her from him, we would never have had to have seen this day.

"She did not want me to tell you

"Why?

"Because if you did anything to break her engagement her father would have done something to you!

He had never liked her father. He had always been a cold man, he never paid attention to his bubbly and over the top daughter...Well so had he! How could ever judge the old man, he had done the same thing. Ignored her every success, belittled her to no end. Yet she always believed him to be better than he was. Mehek never lied. Mehek never lied, yet she had lied that day. She had lied to him!

"What could her father do to me?

"He would have taken your scholarship Shaurya, he knew Mehek loved the both of us so much he used it to control her... Shaurya looked up at his mother. Who looked at him with sagged shoulders.

"Why would you not tell me that once mom? He said softly.

He felt angry so angry he was unsure how to control himself.

He looked at her and she tried to touch Mehek he pushed her hand away.

"She asked me not to tell you, Shaurya what was I supposed to do?

He began to think Mehek had given up everything to, give him his success. He had taunted her called her every name he could think off, and still never told him anything. His vision blurred.

He walked out of the room and went silently down the stairs. His mother followed him.

"Shaurya you have to put that man away. She never deserved any of this. I don't want him to touch her again She told him, Shaurya pushed her hand away.

"Sandeep, will be dealt with mom, I will make sure he never sees the light of day ever again. But how am I took look myself in the mirror. Why did you not think once about me? I would have left that goddamn collage and taken both of you away! He would have in a heartbeat. The more he thought about it the more it sickened him.

He picked up a glass and threw it against the wall as hard as he could.

"Shaurya no please don't ... His mother tried to control him, he kicked the side table over.

"Mehek...

Hearing her name, made his chest hurt. He fell onto his knees. And looked at the floor. Every single time, he had pushed her away, reeled in front of him, like a torturous movie clip.

He had devoted his existence to one thing his career and ambition, while she had devoted her life to him. she sacrificed herself for him. Little things that he had noticed of her recovery and her stay began to bother him, the way she never complained about food. The way she never complained about anything. The way she never even clung to him any longer. Did she regret giving her life up to someone like him, who had never valued her once, who had always treated her poorly?

She loved him. he told himself, she kept it all a secret.

Still kept it all a secret. She loved him. she still did.

He felt his mother touch him and he pushed her hand away.

"You never kept anything like this from me, mom ever, you always told me everything, you told me when dad left you for a woman with money, you told me about Mr Sharma asking you to become his mistress, you always told me everything. Why would you not tell me this?

"I loved you so much, Shaurya you know that. But Mehek has always been my child as well, she was so different from you. She needed me. You never needed me you were always so strong an mature, always looking after me rather than the other way around. With Mehek, she relied on me always. She always wanted to be around me while you always just wanted to study, and do better...Mehek is my child. I would do anything for her She said, it was the truth, he had watched it. Mehek had always been slightly spoilt, he had found her annoying. She would constantly be at their house trying all sorts of ways to befriend him.

He had kept one of her wedding rings, as a kid. He had never been able to throw it away.

Until that night.

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Mehek woke up feeling tired. Most of her body had healed. She stretched and groaned, she looked up at the clock, it was 12 pm. Then she saw it her room, was covered with flowers. Dozens and dozens of flowers. A giant teddy bear was in the middle of the room.

She pushed the cover away and sneezed.

The scent of all the flowers was a little overwhelming. She went to the teddy bear and touched it and it fell forwards. Mehek tried to push it back upwards but it did not want to stand, she felt Shaurya behind her push it up. He was wearing a white t shirt and pair of black jeans.

Mehek looked up at him, her heart fluttered. She could not help it, she blushed but refused to look away. He did first.

"It took me forever to make this stupid thing stand He said, Mehek blinked. He had been nicer to her than he had ever been to her. This past month here, in his house, with just the three of them, felt so incredibly unbelievable.

"I am sorry I came inside without knocking He said, Mehek wondered if her having gotten beaten by Sandeep had been the reason of Shaurya's kindness and found herself, not really wanting to be pitied. It sickened her.

"What is all of this? She asked.

"I wanted to wish you a happy birthday! He said, Mehek looked at him and there was something off about him. and it was not her birthday.

"It isn't my birthday Mehek told him.

"It's for all the ones I missed He said, Mehek was confused. He went to her table. There were 6 boxes on it.

"What are those?

"Open them Mehek turned away from them.

"What is all of this? She asked him again. Mehek was confused.

"I... He looked lost for a minute. Mehek felt him take her hands again.

His hands were cold.

"Nehal told me that if I did some grand gesture you would be impressed. I told her this was a crap idea He said, nervously. Mehek had never seen him nervous in her life.

His hands shook.

"I love you He said, Mehek's heart stopped.

"Wait...I need to start over...My mother told me everything he said, Mehek felt him get on his knees. Mehek felt uncomfortable.

"My mother told me everything. I am sorry. I know that nothing I ever say will... Before he could finish what he way saying. This was why she never wanted to tell him, she never wanted to see him like this.

"Karuna ma promised me... Mehek said looking away.

"I know she promised you...but her hatred for Sandeep made her tell me everything. Mehek I am so sorry

Mehek blinked at him and her eyes watered.

"I never wanted you to know... She said. She never wanted him to know anything. He stood up and pulled her against him.

"You promised to stay with me always. And yet you left me. You left me. Mehek I would have given up everything... He said against her hair.

"I would have given up everything, for you.

"I did not want you to She said softly.

"When I dragged you here and spoke rubbish to you and dragged you around how did you not slap me? The old Mehek would have slapped me He asked her, his eyes were sad. Mehek reached out and touched his cheek.

"I don't know... She said.

"I love you He said again.

"What about that girl with the red dress? She asked him, she felt him laugh. It was a soft beautiful sound that made her want to cry. She had not heard it in so many years.

"I would never dare, you beat them up he said, Mehek smiled. She wondered why had she been so afraid of telling him.

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

RKDEWAANA2017-08-11 05:25:34