Chapter 10
.Chapter #36
*** I already am, Dost... the luckiest man in the world...I have you.
She really hated this man, Mehek thought as she stared at her phone with an amused smile planted on her face. He always had a comeback to appease her. She looked out the window of the car, as she and Malik made their way from the corporate offices. A third of the drive, she suddenly turned. "This is a first, for you, Malik." She smiled as the man in question sent a puzzled look her way. "Not filling my ears with complaints about Shaurya," she clarified.
"It would only be a wasted effort, not to mention that there is merit in the arrangement that even I can appreciate. Besides, the man isn't omnipotent; I doubt even he would have the ability to entice the company into a deal for his exclusive benefit."
"That's only because, he wasn't here long enough," Mehek countered jokingly, a comment that had her colleague rolling his eyes good naturedly.
"You've got it bad, you know."
"Perhaps," she said, looking back at her phone to the recent chat and Shaurya's comment on Malik's failed love-life specifically. She sobered instantly. "Since, we've finished sooner than we thought, how about swinging by the kiosk with me?"
"To tell the truth, I was thinking it best to get a jump start on things at Saana, considering I had bailed on them yesterday. Thanks anyway."
"Malik..."
"So, I am happy to report, that even if Mel still chooses not to indulge in an actual conversation, she at least hasn't lost her manners. She sent me a thank-you text for the flowers just after 11 last night."
"Did she," Mehek asked, thinking that the timing would have coincided with the end of her friend's date.
"Something is better than nothing, I suppose."
"Hmm,"
"Do you expect she will still be getting that internship with Khanna Industries?"
"I'm not certain. Shaurya was hoping to let things settle somewhat, before he approached her, just to make sure she couldn't be tempted into making any rash decisions. I suspect though, he will look to move on it before her contract runs out and Mel possibly starts looking for opportunities elsewhere. I reckon that if it comes to fruition, that she would probably be in Delhi when you would be expected to be; if that helps you any."
"I'll keep that in mind," he answered as he pulled into the theme park's staff area. "Give my regards to everyone, he mentioned as Mehek exited the vehicle.
After a solid three hours working at the kiosk, Mel approached Mehek. "You're not even going to ask me, are you?"
"Ask you what, Mel?"
"Don't be coy, Mehek. About last night: about my date."
Mehek paused forming another batch of laddoos. "Well, I figured that you would have been chomping at the bit to tell me, if there was anything you wished me to know."
Melissa hesitated, and then began pouring her heart out. "He brought flowers. Nothing fancy that you could read much into, but a nice arrangement all the same. And he was the perfect gentleman the entire night. We went to a movie and then walked around Disney Springs for a while. It was nice... pleasant."
Mehek sensed her hesitation. "But..."
"But the whole time, all I did was think about those 15 roses that I had given away earlier in the day, and the temperamental man who had given then to me. There's no comparison between the two of them: the flowers or the men."
"I don't think that's a determination you can make so soon, Mel. Granted, you have interacted with Malik for longer, but it's not fair to judge Dev after one date. He may be perfect for you."
"How can you say that, when you didn't think I should have gone on the date with Dev in the first place?"
"Nahi, it was more like you shouldn't have been so reckless to do so before you settled things with Malik. Not that I am saying that he's necessarily the man you need either, but choosing a guy who is so close to the situation may not have been the wisest thing to do, that's all I'm saying. "
"I'm seeing him again tonight."
Mehek threw her hand ups in the air. "Thik hai, I just give up, you know..."
"His work shift allows him two back-to-back days off, and then he either on duty or on call for who knows how long. It's the only reason I agreed to a second date. That's it though. I plan on telling him tonight that it's probably best that we just stay friends."
The continued lull in customers allowed the pair to remain side by side for a while longer. With the festival approaching its end, it was to be expected.
"Did he at least ask about me?"
"Who: Malik? He did tell me to say hello for him," Mehek responded as she got back to work.
"That was to everyone. I mean me, particularly."
"Do you really have to ask Mel?"
**********
... Yeah so, the weather has been horrible to say the least.
... My hair totally frizzed up before I went to lunch yesterday
...looked like a bird's nest
... nice restaurant...
Mehek sighed.
She was going to have to respond.
After all the time she had been granted, giving her some needed space, Nehal was in a persistent mood and would not leave her alone now, even should she be asked. One more night would have been awesome, Mehek thought, but that was not meant to be. Nehal would ramble until she answered.
... food was decent, and the waiter was cute
...best part though was when Mohit slapped Shaurya Khanna across the face. It was epic.
Hands that had hovered over the keyboard, flew up to her mouth in a vain attempt to keep Mehek's gasp from escaping...What!
...but I guess it is late on your end and you're not in the mood to talk.
... Goodnight Di.
...Nehal
...Calling you now.
...
...
...Nehal I still see you online take the bloody call...
The call connected and Mehek found herself facing, not only her sister, but her best friend as well. Sonal's disgruntled expression immediately put her on edge.
"The bloody call, is it? God you even sound like him now." She shuffled over so that Nehal could fully enter the camera frame. "You were right Sonal, I should have used his name from the get go."
Willing her heart to slow down, Mehek admonished the two of them. "So you just wanted my attention, Mohit didn't..."
"Oh, he most certainly did," Nehal interrupted. "At the man's own restaurant, no less."
Horror filled her, as she recalled Shaurya detailing the important meeting he had scheduled for the same day. Given that he hadn't mentioned an incident involving her family, she hoped that meant that it hadn't disrupted his appointment. She prayed that was the case.
"Are you guys crazy? White Chili's is a place of business. How could Mohit, any of you think you can barge into the place and assault the owner? What gave you the right? I cannot believe you, especially you Sonal? How could you let Mohit lose his head like that?"
The two girls ignored her completely and began talking to each other. "You see this, Mohit and I take a stand for her, and she is more concerned about him. If she can defend Shaurya like this from afar, what do you think he's done to her? What have their face-to-face interactions been like, Sonal?"
"Impressionable, for both of them I would say. A classic case of it's the quiet ones that you have watch out for," the other girl said with a side-glance to her agitated friend. "I hope at the very least you have been safe, Mehek."
Mehek continued as if, her friend hadn't vulgarly speculating about her and Shaurya. "He is due to re-start filming ICS today. If Mohit has hurt him... where is Mohit anyway. If he's home, get him in here."
"Oh she's sunk, she doesn't even care that you have for all intents and purposes insulted her just now," Nehal exclaimed. "I don't think we even need to ask the question."
"But we told him we would, and to be honest I want to hear what she has to say." Looking much more like her normal self, Sonal grinned. "Mehek calm down. Shaurya Khanna is a big boy, and he took the hit like a man. Oh and by the way we were invited to White Chili's: Mohit, Nehal and I. Shaurya wanted to meet with us to talk about you."
"We had to go," Nehal in a much more conciliatory tone. "You had left and hadn't spoken to us in weeks, Mehek. We were so worried, and we couldn't find out anything that didn't point to Shaurya being at fault."
"It was meant to, but I was mistaken. He never did anything. I know that you probably didn't believe him when he told you that, but it's the truth."
"Actually, he didn't say anything of the sort. When we finally did have the opportunity to speak, he just admitted to being in love with you, and if we wanted to know the truth of how you felt, to ask you tell us about KK & MS...whatever that means."
Mehek lowered her eyes for a minute before raising them to the two who for the most part understood her completely.
"It means a lot actually."
"Are you in love with Shaurya Khanna, Mehek?"
Because it was the two of then, she answered with no hesitation. "Yes, very much."
"And this KK...MS saga?"
"Oh, just your average modern-day romance."
*********
Judging by the impromptu round of applause that began when he entered the studio, the competitors, for the most part were excited to see him.
"Namaste everyone, hopefully you will comprehend that the reports of my getting lost in the Bermuda Triangle, have been greatly exaggerated. As are the rumors about the remainder of the competition being scrapped completely untrue. If anything, I think all of you will appreciate my absence, once we get on with the competition. You will note a change of two to the format, but we do have some exciting things in store. If you will all get reacquainted with your stations, we will be ready to go momentarily."
He turned away, and reached for his mobile that had begun vibrating almost as soon as he had entered the studio.
***PING***
...Video Call
...Now
...would be advisable for you have Bluetooth
... Jaan, about to start filming
...NOW Shaurya
"Something wrong, Shaurya," Rajiv asked as he watched the his partner's brow furrow.
"Mehek,"Shaurya indicated, as he fiddled with his earpiece. "I'll be back in a second."
He answered the incoming call on the first ring.
"Jaan, what's wrong?"
"Just be quiet and let me look see you."
"Are you taking this missing me a little too far?"
"Hush, and just turn around. Have you been to make-up already?"
"Mehek, baby, what is this all about?"
"About you letting my brother beat you?"
He laughed. "Beat me; is that the story his running with? It was no such thing. Mohit shouldn't exaggerate so. It was barely a tap," he added to appease her.
"I've just got off the phone with Nehal and Sonal."
"Aacha. Was it difficult for you Mehek?"
"Nahi, but I can't say that I am entirely happy having this sprung on me without any warning, Shaurya. Do you consider me less than you in this relationship, that you have to lead me, guide my steps without any input from me at all?"
"Never, Mehek, but I won't deny that if it's in my power to make things easier for you that I won't follow through with it."
"But do you have any idea how that comes across: that you are a manipulator, that you are exploiting me. My cousins, and Sonal won't see it that, but my Chachi, believes this of you already. Having Nehal and Mohit suddenly singing your praises is not going to help us. Therefore, Mr. Khanna, until I come home, you are absolutely forbidden to speak to or try to influence anyone else in my family. If you want us to be together, you have to allow me the stand beside you and not behind you. You got that?"
"I do, and I'm sorry. I guess I'm just used to taking charge."
"I won't lie, it was good to be able to speak to them openly about us. But remember what I said."
Since she hadn't brought up PD, Shaurya deferred doing so as well.
"Okay, I will let you go. All the best for the shoot, Shaurya."
They said their good-byes and then hung up. Shaurya headed on to complete what he needed to, but before he did his phone vibrated once more.
****PING***
...BTW I didn't mention this on the phone, since it would have totally undermined my position, but you look incredibly hot today KK. If I never mentioned it before I think that blue suit is so sexy. Make sure you wear it for me when I come home.
[NOCOPY]
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