Chapter 31

Chapter # 28

 

Shaurya was stunned into silence, having been accused, and yes, he understood, condemned by the woman who had taken hold of him on levels he could not have imagined before her. He saw in her eyes that she resolutely believed in what she was saying, and he could not prevent the sense of indignation that she of all people could think him capable of something so unspeakable.

 

"It wasn't me, he stated, impassioned by his need for her trust; for the belief in him that he deserved.

 

Somehow, his answer brought an unwanted degree of levity to the conversation, and instead of more tears, Mehek now found herself unable to contain her laughter. Of all the pathetic comebacks... she thought as she covered her mouth with her napkin, before taking the same cloth and dabbing her eyes with it. "Ah Shaurya could you be even more clich or is that really the go to response that you men are taught from very young?  She settled down and dismissively turned her focus away from him to her own plate. She picked up a forkful, and looked to him once more. "Chalo Shaurya, let's eat. It would be disrespectful to all of Mel's hard work not to enjoy what she has prepared. She sniffed appreciatively.  "Mm: If it tastes as good as it smells...

"Mehek.

Ignoring him, Mehek continued her train of thought after taking a bite. "I really hope she had the opportunity to fix Malik a plate. He would really appreciate her efforts, and they do say that the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach...theoretically anyway.

Shaurya could only gape at her, and wonder how she could disconnect like this.  He couldn't allow her to her though, and slammed his fist on the dining table.

"For God's sake, Mehek, this isn't something you can just turn your back on!

She dropped her cutlery. "I don't want fight, Shaurya, she answered weakly. Miserable eyes rose to meet his and she shook her head. "Especially since there is nothing left to fight for.

His answer to that was to pull out his mobile and start dialing. By the length it took to key in the number, she realized that he was making an international call, probably back home, but given the time difference she hoped this wasn't the case.  He jumped up and began pacing as he waited for his call to be answered.

"Bhai...nahi, nothing is right: not a damn thing...where are you in getting the remainder of the security footage for that day? I want that tape in my possession in twelve hours. I don't care. There must be a backup somewhere. As a matter of fact, get all of them for the entire week. Pay off whomever you need to, whatever it takes to get them to me at first light. Get on it; I have another call to make. He hung up the call, and immediately went on to the next. His pacing had taken him closer to the living-room and after a clear misdial Shaurya cursed under his breath and started again, this time concentrating on dialing the correct number. The phone rang once in his ear, before he found himself emptyhanded.

"This is ridiculous, it's what 4:15 AM back home. You can't do things like this to people on a whim.

He made a grab for her wrist to take the phone back, but when he had pulled her close to him, he couldn't proceed now that she was so near. "This is no less than a life and death situation to me. I would do any and everything to clear my name, even though, in your heart, you know that I wouldn't, I couldn't do this to you.  Dost, you know the inner-workings of me more than anyone, and you know that I am telling the truth when I say that the only one who remotely came close to making me want to cross the line was you. You frightened me Mehek Sharma, because I wanted you inspite the fact that I knew by then that MS held my heart. Why the hell would I turn to another woman? I don't know who you saw there with Esha, but it wasn't me.

"So, you accept that she was there, in your private dressing room?

Shaurya thought back on the evidence he had seen for himself that evening on the young woman in question, in the form of the fresh love bite that she bore. He had no words to describe the wantonness of one so young, let alone the motives behind what she had done. "Haan, Mehek I wouldn't be surprised at all. The tapes I have asked Bhai to secure should clarify everything. He was suddenly aware that he had missed the perfect opportunity in not having Mehek speak to Rajiv. Whereas her trust in him had waned, she would listen to Bhai, of this he was certain. And with the man awake now...

"Give me the phone, Mehek.

 

"Nahi, she whispered. "I'd rather talk to you about how much you claim to want me, Shaurya.

 

********

 

Shaurya checked his watch for the second time in as many minutes, wondering if Mehek had any intention of showing up this morning.  Granted, he was early, however after last night he wouldn't be surprised if she chose not to come. They had both behaved badly: he in giving in to his anger and then abandoning her and she in being the most vexing, obstinate woman on the face of the earth. However, before all of that...

 

He lost his train of thought when an unknown awareness had his head swiveling towards the bank of elevators in the hotel lobby. On cue, the doors of one of them opened, and she stepped out. He watched her as she looked to where he had said he would be, and then, with her head held high walked towards him. As he had, she had worn sunglasses, to prevent him from reading her emotions. Not that it mattered, as for the minute all of his attention was focused completely on her figure. You see, she wasn't merely walking, as opposed to sauntering towards him: a slow sensual gait that had him smoldering just in the watching.  And after last night, he suspected that she knew exactly what she was doing.

 

"I'd rather talk to you about how much you claim to want me, Shaurya.

 

A lie if there ever was one, Shaurya had come to discover, as she had everything but talking on her mind. She had gone for it: reached up to encircle his neck and had pressed herself closer to him than she had ever done before. The hand that had held his phone now linked with the other behind his neck, leaving him slightly off-balance since he was now backed up against the sofa. In order to steady them, at least that is what he convinced himself at the time, the hand that had followed hers in the effort to retrieve his property, now slid slowly down her arm, skimming her side until  it landed firmly at her waist. Automatically his hold tightened. She emitted a sharp breath then, but in no way sought escape from it nor its partner who had joined the effort on her other side. She was well and firmly in his grip with no avenue of escape.

 

"How much, Shaurya, she asked against his mouth.

 

His next conscious thought came when she had pulled away from him separating from their kiss. One so heated; so intense that during it he had somehow landed on the sofa and now Mehek had settled on his lap in as intimate of a position as they could manage while still being clothed. Not that it made a difference. Clothes or no, her restlessness was obvious, and she would have to bereft of every sense not to note the physical reaction that had derived from that kiss.  Both breathing with more purpose, Shaurya at least, recognized the complete precariousness of their situation, and made to stop: an effort made futile when Mehek returned, not for his lips this time, but the skin that was exposed by his v-necked shirt. Lathing his heated flesh with her tongue, when she wasn't nipping at his skin assaulting him with tiny bites she sent shock after shock throughout him as she worked her way up to his ear.

"Show me how much, Dost.

Shaurya had no idea how he would extract them from this. Or if he even wanted to.

 

**********

 

Fire: hot and unadulterated; Mehek had known she was playing with it, just as much as she basked in it. The heady feeling that came with the knowledge that she had the ability to affect him so, empowered her to go further than she knew should. Yet nothing would stop her in this quest to make him understand. She need only maintain the control that she feared she was losing and would continue to, as long as she egged him on.

 

"Show me how much, Do.t

  

She had intentionally used the term that had become the sweetest endearment when he spoke it, in hopes that the connotation would spur him on. She gasped heavily when it did; when one hand at her waist tightened even more to hold her fast against his hardness, while the other trailed up her front, until it reached and lightly skimmed the underside of her breast. Lightly he cupped its roundness while his thumb strayed higher.  She had no idea that she was so sensitive. It felt like lightning had struck, shooting in a downwards direction, directly to the core of her. From the back of her throat a moan game in conjunction with the uncontrollable need to move against him: just a little, just once, just to relieve the sensations his touch was creating.  However, of all things: what one would have thought would have been the greatest incentive to continue, was as effective as a douse of cold water to Shaurya who came to a complete halt when her hips rocked against him. Mehek leaned back, confident that he wouldn't let her topple, to look at him opened mouthed. He shook his head, silently letting her know that they had gone as far as they could afford to tonight. But then she broke his resolve completely when in a tenacious move, she untied the laces that held her kurti closed.

 

************

"Shaurya, stop.

 

He had waited for her to call an end to this, knowing that only her words would avail him the ability to do so. As it was she was seconds away from him taking complete control of this and bringing the resolution she seemed to be encouraging. For certain she had had no objection when he had suddenly manipulated her into another position: one that had her firmly beneath him. Now, only their clothes lay as a barrier between them, and should he have his way, they wouldn't be for much longer. Still he raised his head when she had called out.

 

"I'm not at all used to this. You are going to have to teach me, Shaurya.

 

She could have fooled him, he thought ruefully. He looked  to the swell of her right breast that had been revealed when she had untied her blouse, that now bore his mark, and thought of her response to him doing that. "We will both learn Jaan, he answered huskily. "Just as I am figuring out pleases you, so will you learn what I like. It's pretty natural process, he teased her before leaning down and brushing his lips against hers.

 

"Good, she replied, responding with her own kiss. "For instance, I have absolutely no clue at what point it is appropriate calling out another man's name. She had innocently stared up at him when he had raised up, not certain he had heard what he thought. "I mean when exactly during our lovemaking is this permissible, Shaurya? And are there limitations to it? Certain parameters one has to follow; names that are not allowed, or will any do? If seconds ago, had I called out someone else's name, let's  say Ma...

 

He was on her before she could even complete speaking, covering her mouth with his hand. "Do not, he warned before sitting up and moving away from her in disgust.

 

She had done the same, moving to sit in the opposite corner of the sofa, and had drawn her legs up to herself. "Did you really think you could just explain this away with supposition and security tapes and the like, Shaurya? That any of that could explain what I heard from her own mouth? Bolo Shaurya, exactly what man allows such?

 

He hadn't been able to look at her for fear that he would completely lose his temper, when she had spouted such nonsense.

 

 "One who has a motive behind doing so, and a partner as conniving as he to carry out such a plan. Just like you said, Mehek Sharma, you scarcely have a clue about being intimate with a man, and thus far your only exposure has been the pleasurable side of it: the purity of connecting with the one you love. If that was all there was to it than you would have a valid point, but there is more that you don't know about, that I wouldn't wish for you to know of. That there are those who revel in the power they can yield, the destruction they can wreak using sex. Do you really think I would be as foolish to conduct some sleazy affair somewhere I could be discovered relatively easily:  and with one of my contestants no less? I know you were shocked by what you saw; what you heard, and trust me I want to kill the person behind this, for doing this to you, but in the time from then until now, did it not even for one second, seem too coincidental that all of my supposed wrongdoings came could to light in one day? Did you not have one iota of faith in me? Did our friendship have no bearing on whether you should believe in me?

 

 He stood, looking briefly around, before locating and grabbing his cellphone. "Nahi I guess it wouldn't because you are silly, stupid little girl Mehek Sharma. One who would bring such sordidness into what we share. He leaned over to her and surprised her by retying the laces to cover her up. "Well Ms. Sharma, I would say you have made one hell of a memory here in your new flat, he flatly stated as he stood upright again. "I hope you can live with it.

"I know what I heard, Shaurya, cried out to his back, ignore the tiny prick that hinted to the fact that she may have been wrong then and even worse, was wrong for doing what she had just done.

 

********

He left then, slamming the door behind him, leaving her, but apparently not before stopping back  at Mel's and arranging transportation for her to get home. One could imagine what that had ensued there, as moments later she had to bear the intrusion of Malik storming into her flat, displaying a now common, and frankly overbearing demeanor. He had given her a look-over, clearly expecting the worst. "That's a quality guy you have there, Mehek, he stated sarcastically.

"Oh, do be quiet, Uncle, Mel called out from behind him. "Are you okay, Mehek, she asked, easily discerning by her friend's rumpled appearance what the pair had initially been up to before what had to have been a massive falling out. "Shaurya asked if I would make sure to get you home, Mel continued gently, hoping that her friend understood that even though they were at odds, that her well-being remained paramount to Shaurya, and at least she could appreciate him for that.

"I'll take her, Malik declared.

"Only if I'm coming along. You probably just want to use the opportunity to upbraid her the whole time, Uncle.

"So, you expect me to come all the way back here, out of my way, just because you want to go for the ride?

"Basically, Mel answered with a shrug, as she approached her friend and looped her arm in hers. "You know Mehek, Shaurya actually took a copy of my resume when he left. Do you think he will really look it over? Perhaps give me an interview?

Mehek heard Malik's grunt and sent a small smile over to Mel, recognizing the girl's effort to deflect the attention from her and most likely take on the scolding that Malik seemed keen to give. She was really starting to see why Mel taunted the chef so much.

 

Naturally they did bicker, the entire drive back to the hotel, as a matter of fact, with the only break coming when Mel took a phone call. Strangely enough, even that appeared to annoy Malik: goodness knew why. And unbelievably Mel had barely hung up from it before some off the cuff comment set the pair at it once more. Still their bantering did give Mehek the reprieve that she wouldn't have had, had she been alone for the ride. Her companions' voices faded into the background as she thought on the evenings' events.  

 

She would do so for some time, and before she knew it daybreak had come, and in less than a blink of the eye their meeting time was at hand. She had had a long time to ponder things, and could concede after her long night awake, that perhaps her methods hadn't been the best. She knew she had hurt Shaurya, but no less than she had been.

 

And now, after she had hesitantly approached him, they were finally face-to-face.

"Namaste Shaurya.

"Good Morning Ms. Sharma.

"Have you breakfast yet? If you haven't, perhaps I can make you something quick; some chai at the very least? She blushed furiously when she realized that she was effectively inviting him to her room.

"I don't believe that will be the best of ideas, do you?

"No, I expect not, she haltingly responded. "I guess we should leave then; there's a lot to see.

 

She stopped him just outside the door, when he was about to head towards the parking lot. "I thought it might be fun to take the monorail instead. It's such a fun way to get around the property.

"Whatever you wish; you know the lay of the land better than I do.

She swallowed the lump in her throat that came due to his coldness toward her, and left him to follow in her wake. They took the first leg, which by virtue of the fact it serviced the Magic Kingdom was standing room only. Holding on to the same bar, Mehek avoided looking at Shaurya, still uncertain of his mood. Still, she couldn't help but ask what had had been running through her mind since she had seen him. "Was Rajiv Sir, able to secure the security tape?

"Nahi. Curiously, the entire reel for that particular day was destroyed; corrupted somehow.

"Oh. Mehek fell silent, unsure what more to say. This news surely wasn't what Shaurya had expected to hear. He would have absolutely no way to confirm any of his suspicions now.

"I didn't think it would matter to you, Ms. Sharma, being that there is nothing left to fight for anyway.

 She ignored his snide remark "But that doesn't make sense Shaurya, wasn't the footage you already have from the same day? How could the recording be corrupted and you have access to it?

"Exactly my thought, Dost. Why indeed, unless there was something, someone was trying to hide?

 

"But why us, Shaurya? What have we done, that someone would want to do this to us?

 

"Us, Mehek?

She nodded.

His response was to push his sunglasses to the top of his head and then repeat the action with hers, leaving them completely exposed to one another. He wanted no further chance of anther misunderstandings; nothing lost in translation. " You do understand, as of right now I have nothing, Mehek. No proof other than my word. Nothing to counter what you saw or what you heard; nothing but my truth. I may never find the proof you need.

 

"Yes, you will, but even if you don't it won't matter, Shaurya. I don't care anymore. I still want us.

Discovering the Magic Thread#2

[NOCOPY]

crtkelly2017-10-12 17:51:39