Chapter 3

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Benaam Rishta
Chapter 3
Few days later Mahek was called for an interview at a very famous restaurant in town. She was getting dressed when her cell phone rang. Unknown number flashed on the screen. "Itni subha kaun ho sakta hai?" She picked it up. "Hello Mahek here.." "I know you are Mahek and please don't ask introduction from me because I won't tell you who I am." A guy spoke from the other side. Mahek grimaced. "I have called to warn you of shaurya khanna,he's a big time womanizer! He knows you have lost your memory and hence he's after you to use and throw you like a tissue paper! Take my advice and stay away from him!" The guy added. "Who are you and how did you get my number?" Asked Mahek angrily. The guy just laughed and hung up. Mahek couldn't believe her ears,she didn't wanted to believe what the guy just said. Fuming,she sat down on the bed with a thud and held her head. "Think Mahek,shaurya kissed you at the first meeting and then the night encounter in the bedroom...may be the anonymous caller is right...shaurya khanna is after me ..hey Bhagwan! I have to stay away from him! If i have a past with him then it will be in the open soon,truth cannot be hidden for too long." Said Mahek to herself. "Focus Mahek focus! It's your interview today so concentrate on that." Her inner being told her. Composing herself,she left to grab her bag when her eyes fell on the black blazer hanging in the closet. "Family friend hai toh obviously aana Jana laga raha hoga...apna coat bhool Gaya shayad...next time if I see him here I'll remind Nehal to give him his blazer back." Blabbering to herself,she came in the hall to take everyone's blessing before leaving.

Shaurya was just leaving for work when his cell phone rang. He picked it up seeing Nehal's name flashing on the screen. "Bol Nehal,what's up?" "Jiju,Di just left for the bus stop,please hurry!" Smile crept on Shaurya's lips. "Thanks for the info saali ji,I'm on my way!" Grabbing his car keys he rushed towards the door. "Beta,breakfast!" Ma hauled from the dining table. "I'll have it at the restaurant,bye ma I'll see you tonight after work." Throwing flying kisses towards his mom,he stepped out of the door. Meanwhile Mahek was waiting at the bus stop for the bus to arrive. Suddenly a car pulled over some meters away from her. Wind blew and the files from her hand flew with the wind,in some seconds her documents were lying scattered all over the ground. "Oh no! I better gather this before the bus arrives!" She reached for the files on the ground when a huge hand who was also picking up the file collided with her hand. Mahek twitched her head to find shaurya in front of her eyes. "Tum? Tum yahan bhi aagay?" Mahek pulled away her hands and stood up. "Han main,kiyu tumey kisi aur ka intazaar tha?" Asked shaurya while handing her the files. "I was waiting for the bus! Why do I feel you are following me?" Shaurya smirked. "Why would I follow you? I was driving by and saw you so thought to give you a ride,that's all." Said shaurya. "I don't know! You tell me! And thanks I don't need a ride I'll go by bus." Mahek snapped. "Mahek,what's wrong with you? Why are you behaving like we are strangers?" Shaurya was getting pissed with her attitude. "Nothings wrong with me...I just don't want to see you around me...so please stay away!" Her face turned purple as she was becoming enraged. Shaurya couldn't believe his ears. "Mahek please..." she cut him off in between with her raised hand in the mid air to stop him. Bus stopped by her and she got in. Shaurya stood there dumbstruck. Disappointment shot through him as she left. "Sorry my love,staying away from you is just not possible." Smirking,shaurya got in his car and drove away.

Mahek arrived at white chillies which was located on the main floor of a three story building. Karan and Ankita escorted her to the second floor where the restaurant's offices were situated. Shaurya called Karan and instructed him what to do. After few minutes on the phone with the boss,Karan attended to Mahek who was nervously sitting in the office. "You are hired miss Mahek! Welcome aboard!" Karan extended his hand for a hand shake. "But sir you didn't go through my cv or check my references.." asked Mahek with a confused expression. "No need miss sharma,only thing we'll ask from you is to sign a 2 year contract with us if that's ok with you." Said Karan while passing her a contract already prepared for her to sign. Mahek was happy she got a job to keep herself busy so without wasting anymore time to think she just went ahead and autographed the documents. Karan sighed in relief. "Now it's meet and greet time with the owner of the restaurant." Said Karan. "Sure why not." Mahek followed Karan to the owners office. Karan showed her the office of the owner and handed her the contract to give it to the owner and left. Mahek had no idea what was awaiting her inside. Inhaling and exhaling hard,she knocked on the door. "Come in." A deep voice came from inside. Mahek turned the door knob and opened the door. Stepping inside the room,she found the owner sitting with his back facing her. "Good morning sir,I'm Mahek your new employee." Mahek mumbled. "Good morning! And nice to meet you Mahek!" Saying that shaurya swung around his chair and faced her. Maheks eyes popped out. "Tum!" Shaurya smirked, standing up he walked towards her. "I'm your employer miss sharma,now if you don't mind can I go through the contract you just signed?" Mahek flung the documents on his desk. "I'm sorry i quit! I can not work with you!" Mahek turned to leave but shaurya caught her arm and pulled her on him. Mahek collided with his hard torso. Her breath hitched as her softness rubbed on his chest. Sensations shot through her. Avoiding his eyes,she tried hard to break free. "Sorry to say miss sharma,you are stuck with me for two years whether you like it or not." His arms tightened around her tiny petite as he squeezed her frame more on him. A whimper escaped her lips. His hot breath on her face had started to create havoc in her system. "Shaurya leave me please..." pleaded Mahek. "Only if you promise me not to create a scene in my restaurant and like a obedient staff you'll start working in the kitchen from today." Shaurya laid his condition. Left with no choice she nodded her head. "That's like a good girl." Shaurya let her go. "I'll see you around soon." Without waiting for him to finish his monologue she ran outside shutting the door behind her,huffing and gasping for air she held her chest to normalize her breathing. "Hey Bhagwan Abh Kya hoga? I'm trapped with bandar khanna! Why does he have so much power over me? His presence makes me weak! There's no way I can avoid him for two years,Abh main karu toh kiya karu?" Mahek was mumbling and walking towards the elevator. Karan met her right before the elevator and guided her to the kitchen.

Inside the office shaurya pulled out a photo from his desk drawer. It was his and maheks engagement photo. Tears swam in his eyes as he ran his fingers on the picture. "I'm sorry Mahek I'm forcing you to work with me,I have no other alternatives...this is the only way I can stay close to you and trust me the more we spend time together the sooner you'll recover and remember everything." Shaurya sighed as he brought the photo to his chest. Weeks went by,Mahek was fully dedicated to her work and on the other side shaurya was busy attending meetings and all. Mahek tried to avoid him as much as possible. In between breaks,shaurya would drop by the kitchen to see how she was doing. Their eyes would meet,shaurya would wave his hand with a smile. Mahek would give him her half smile and get busy in her work. He wished he could pull her in his arms and kiss her soundly.

It was getting dark and the weather outside had started to change. Soon it was pouring hard. Mahek was wrapping up for the day when shaurya stepped in the kitchen looking for her. "Mahek,when you are done I'll drop you home,there's a rain storm warning and the buses won't run in this weather." Mahek removed her apron and looked at him. "Thanks but I'll manage." She said sternly. "Manage? How will you manage when there's no buses or auto running at this hour?" Shaurya was getting frustrated. "I'll walk home but I won't take a ride with you,samjhe Tum?" Mahek left towards the elevator to go upstairs to the staff room. Shaurya grabbed her wrist and whirled her around,held her strongly and looked with an almost fierce expression . "Tumari problem Kya hai huh? I'm nicely asking you to come with me aur Tum tewar dikha rahi ho? Chup chaap chalo mere saath!" Shaurya raised his voice a bit. His hold tightened on her wrist. "Aahhh...haath choro mera..you are hurting me shaurya..." Mahek winced in pain. Shaurya quickly let her go seeing her hissing in pain. "Go grab your stuffs I'm waiting right here." He ordered. Mahek made an ugly face at him,rubbing her wrist,she left towards the elevator. Outside,lightening struck again and thunder rolled. The trees split into two as more rain came down. Suddenly power went off in the area hence white chillies was covered in darkness! Mahek screamed in the dark as the staff room door locked on her. She screamed and banged on the door for help. "What the hell!" Shaurya tried to find his way to the stairs to get to Mahek. Thank goodness his phone had a torch. He finally found the stairs and reached the second floor. "Mahek!" He howled. "Mahek answer me where are you?!" He ran in the hallway,continuously screaming for her. His voice reached her ears. "Shaurya I'm here,please get me out!" Cried Mahek. His face lit up hearing her voice. "I'm coming Mahek,just stay there!" Thunder rolled again and Mahek covered her ears. "Jaldhi aao shaurya..." she sobbed. She stood by the door,eyes focused on nothing in particular as it was really dark ..she tried to turn on her cell phone but it remained dead. A wave of terror swept over Mahek.She was suddenly completely alone. "Shaurya...I'm scared please hurry na..." she shivered in the dark. "Hang on I'm almost there." Shaurya assured her.

Outside the door,shaurya was turning the knob and trying hard to open it. Not succeeding He kicked the door hard in frustration. "Mahek move back I'm breaking the door down!" "No don't do that! You'll hurt yourself!" Cried Mahek. A smile crept on his lips seeing her concern for him. "Nice to know you care about me!" Her cheeks changed shades of pink when she heard him saying that. "I have no other option but to break this door down!" "Ok then sambhal ke!" Howled Mahek. Shaurya's two solid hard kick landed on the door. Hard. And the door flung open. "Mahek!" He hurried inside. she heard Shaurya bellowing her name from the darkness and momentarily a dull beam of a cell phone light flickered alive and began to sweep over the room,coming in her direction. The light from the cell phone fell on her,scared and pale ...she was standing in the corner of the room hugging her chest. "Mahek! You okay?" He asked quietly. In response,she ran to him with tears streaming down her cheeks. A wave of possessiveness came over him and he opened his arms for her. She ran into his arms,burying her head against the hard wall of his chest. Blood flushed in her face and neck, and she trembled as his arms came around her securing her to him. "Shaurya..." she sobbed on his chest. "Sssh...bas Abh aur Rona nai ...I'm here now..you are safe with me." He dried her tears and enveloped her in his arms once again. "I'm cold." Mumbled Mahek. He held her close, pressing her against his wide chest, and she held him just as tightly, encircling his waist with her arms and holding on as if she weren't ever going to let go. His arms engulfed her, and she could feel him rest his cheek against the top of her head. He kissed the crown of her head. "Let's go to my office,there's a sofa there and I can find you some warm sheets." Said shaurya. "I want to go home." Muttered Mahek. "I'm sorry but we can't go home tonight,we have to wait till morning or until the storm ceases." She lifted her head to look up at him in the dim cell phone light. Her heart was pounding so hard, she could barely hear herself think. She could feel his heart, too, beating at an accelerated rate. His eyes met hers. "What's wrong? Are you afraid of being alone with me?" he teased. "No It's nothing like that." Mahek lied. "Don't worry I'll keep my hands and my other things to myself." Glint of mischief was revealing in his voice. He chuckled when she broke the hug and looked away embarrassed. "Chaley?" He took her hand in his and came out and left towards his office. "We better hurry,the battery will be gone in any minute."

Finally they reached his office. "Sit on the sofa I'll find us something to keep us warm through the night." Said shaurya. As soon as Mahek sat down,the cell phone died on them. Before she could scream in fear,shaurya was right beside her. Covering her with his coat he made her rest her head on his chest. Mahek felt safe resting her head on his torso. He ran his fingers in her hair and asked her to get some sleep. "Kayse soh jaau I'm starving!" Whined Mahek. "Abh main khana kaha se laau? Ek Kaam kar...tu mujhey khaale!" Said shaurya. Mahek burst out laughing. For the first time after 6 months he was seeing her laugh whole heartedly. Tears formed in his eyes along with a Smile on his lips. "Don't you have the energy bar? You always keep it in your pocket na?" Shaurya's eyes widened. Even Mahek was shocked at her own question. "How do you know I carry energy bars with me?" "I don't know...I just said it..." replied Mahek. Soon she dozed off on his lap but shaurya was wide awake contemplating on what Mahek just said.
Precap: more romance (wink)

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Sanjh