MehRya FF: Discovering the Magic Chapter28 pg148 (10/12) - Page 27

Chapter #7

He had at last managed to uncover one thing about his online friend. Or perhaps it was just a confirmation of what he had inherently known already.

It had been patently obvious that she was utterly innocent to the ways of men, when after a lapse of a few minutes, MS had returned to type that she had easily talked her way out of her luncheon appointment. The very fact that she had been able to, told Shaurya everything he needed to know about this new acquaintance of hers. Had the true purpose of their meeting been purely professional, there would have been at the very least a greater push back from this chef who had overnight, become her mentor of sorts; at least in her mind, he had. Chef Malik: already, without knowing anything more about the man other than what MS had disclosed, Shaurya was dubious of the man's intentions. They reeked of a personal interest in MS, which had been substantiated by the lack of professionalism the man had displayed. Business was business, and in no way would a junior cook be dictating any process so early in the game. Now that his eyes had been opened by Rajiv's analogy, he was more worried than ever for his friend, who had typed her praise of the senior chef for not holding her to their prior commitment. In absentia, the man had managed to make further inroads in his dealings with her. And she had no clue. This wouldn't do at all.

...Shaurya, can I ask you why you wished me to be careful of behavior, that you yourself have been guilty of?

He couldn't deny her presumption, to her or to himself. Not any longer: not after today. Not when it was as if the scales had fallen off his eyes, and finally could he recognize the untowardness of his conduct. Still, he had to search for the right words with which to answer.

Sitting at her laptop waiting, Mehek wondered if she had pushed too far; too soon.

...I'm not perfect, but neither is it the norm for me to treat women the way I did her. I did so, purely to press an advantage and because I felt, if anybody, she, in particular, deserved a comeuppance. But until someone brought it to my attention that the same behavior could be perpetrated against someone who matters, only then it proved problematic.

So, she had been the topic of discussion; or at the very least, his behavior towards her had. And that too in conjunction with a disagreement concerning the next season of his show. Interesting. She had done right by crying off from her lunch. Had she not, in all likelihood, she would never have come to know any of this. Putting the pieces of information together, she imagined that it could only have been Rajiv Sir who had thrown the fallout of his tawdry deeds back at him; only someone close to Shaurya could do so that would have such an effect on him. Briefly she wondered if this meant that Sir was also aware of his business partner's online friend as well, but figured this to be inconsequential in light of the breakthrough that had Shaurya Khanna reeling.

...So I, a virtual stranger, matter, but Mehek Sharma someone you actually came to know did not? Even if you hate everything about her, your humanity should have made you realize that everyone matters: that dignity and respect should be a given. There is something wrong with your thinking, especially since you needed someone to tell you this.

...Like I said I'm not perfect. However, I can attest neither is Mehek Sharma.

It took everything not to defend herself, and Mehek suspected that he probably had begun to wonder about her prolonged silence.

...I may never care for her, but in all likelihood, she probably didn't deserve everything that I did.

Still bristling over his previous note, Mehek scoffed aloud, and shook her head contemptuously, on reading his latest concessionary message. Oh really, she thought: his choice of words jumping out at her and sticking in her craw. In her mind, it felt that he was leaving himself an out; that deep down he may actually still believe some of his actions justified.

Or maybe, she contemplated, maybe it was her being unreasonable now. Perhaps she had been expecting entirely too much from the cold man Shaurya Khanna was.

...But for certain, I would want to kill someone for doing the same to you. Which doesn't make sense.

...I don't know, maybe being my mother's only child, is my reason for my inability to empathize the way siblings learn to do.

...Aacha, so are you saying that recognizing that you would have issue with such happening to me is your way of saying that you see me as a sibling: a little sister? Is this my cue to start calling you bhaiyaa? Should I start fashioning a rakhi now to gift you should we ever meet, Shaurya?

His response was swift, and to the point.

...Like Hell. I am not your bhai. Nor do I ever expect to be categorized as such, MS. Save that rakhi crap for your chef friend, not me.

Instantly, Mehek regretted deliberately baiting him out of spite. He was obviously at an impasse in trying to reason out his own behavior. Being dismissive and throwing up these roadblocks to his ruminations would not help.

...I'm sorry, that wasn't called for. Thik hai, let's back up, and start again. For real this time. I will try to keep my passive aggressive comments to a minimum, and you can tell me what you need from me.

Shaurya shut his eyes in relief. By admitting her deliberate combativeness, MS had assured him that she really didn't mean what she had written. Yes, she was feisty: but hardly oblivious. He remained certain he hadn't misread the signs earlier, and that she had felt the same attraction as he: before he had chosen to disclose his identity, that is. Instead, she was lashing out in the only way she could. It was astonishing, he thought, that he could figure her out easier than he could himself. And now he would do anything necessary to get them back where they once on the same page.

...Bolo Shaurya, what do you require of me?

...Nothing MS, besides your ear: for you to be my sounding board. After that, everything else will be up to you, and what you feel you need to be assured. While I envision that anything I disclose, may be interpreted as an excuse, I believe that in having the power to know all there is about Shaurya Khanna, only then you will be able to make whatever decision you feel you must.

... I don't understand.

... It has occurred to me that the easiest way to achieve what you have asked of me, is simply to give you the means by which to do so. Which means relinquishing what I hold most dear to me. I'm offering you full autonomy, MS. I'm opening my life up to you in its entirety with the promise of candid answers to all and any questions you need answering. Basically, you will be in complete control in discovering the real Shaurya Khanna.

...The same control that is everything to you; that the loss of brings out the worst in you - you are willing to give that up? Impossible.

...Haan MS, I am. But in this instance, I'm counting on the rewards to outweigh the disadvantages, and will make every attempt to ignore the fact that this is probably the craziest thing I have ever considered doing.

...This doesn't make sense, never mind how insane it is, you do understand how risky it is to open yourself up to a total stranger. If you adhere to even a portion of this, you risk someone you don't know being privy to any number of your secrets...

...And yet not to will have us remaining just that - strangers. And to bring an end to this I'm willing place my trust in you Dost. So, that's my offer. Shaurya Khanna: the untold story is yours for the taking, no caveats attached. Shall we begin?

He was mad, but if this was the way he wished to proceed, then so be it.

She decided on something that was uncommon knowledge, yet easily verifiable. Hoping that she had presented it in such a fashion that he would not suspect the inside information she already had, Mehek had also given him the opportunity to answer her at a later time, just to see how willing he really was. From this one response, she hoped to know the level of Shaurya Khanna's sincerity for this task.

********

Standing in front of the mirror, Shaurya adjusted the knot of his tie, before pausing to study his reflection, pondering if the change he felt would be exhibited in the glass this morning. He smiled, when his phone pinged again.

The last few days had proven an eye opener. Torn between relief of whether MS would even take him up on his offer, and the worry that her discoveries would show him up as a defective man she wanted no parts of, he had held his breath, waiting for her next step after he had laid his offer before her.

When finally the question had come, he had released a breath and after reading it, resolutely unleashed the memories he had kept inside him; those that had provided the building blocks for the man he had become.

...You confess to lacking empathy for others, something you attribute being an only child. Does this mean you were the sole center of your parents' world and spoilt rotten ? Was yours a happy childhood Shaurya?

...I was the center of Mama's world and that's all that mattered to me then. For as long as I had Mama's love, my world was fine.

... And your father too?

... Nahi, he had no time for me, nor Mama for that matter. He was too busy loving himself and the opportunities he could make for himself. He took advantage of his position: marrying the only daughter of his employer and easily moving on to the better life it afforded him. Oh, he would come slumming and make an appearance now and then when he recalled his wife and child, but neither Mama or I benefited from his visits. Only him, and then before we knew it he would be gone again. The only good to come from being his son, was that when Mama was no more, that Mom and my new grandparents were there to accept me and pick up the pieces. That and the opportunity for me to rise above the hardship of a lower-class life.

...But it wasn't always hardship when you were with your Mama that you remember Shaurya; you said it yourself. At one time the love you had for each other was enough, right?

...Haan, but there was hopelessness, as well. Helplessness far too overwhelming for a young child who had no way to influence what was happening around and to him.

...And, I suspect, the beginning of your insatiable need to be in control; because you had none then. Am I right, Shaurya?

Shaurya read and then re-read that last sentence .That she had pinpointed something he had never taken the time to consider, had him wondering why they were even going through the paces of this exercise, when she knew him already.

... Haan, I would have to say you are right.

She had gone silent then, to the point that he had checked to make sure she hadn't signed off. Finally, he hadn't been able to stand it anymore.

...MS?

...I'm still here, just thinking. I think I should let you go now, it's getting late over there, and I expect you have a busy schedule tomorrow.

Shauryia frowned at what felt like a curt dismissal.

...I would definitely like to chat some more, though. I concede, that there may be far more to you than meets the eye Shaurya Khanna.

...I'm available whenever you are Dost, but you are right on both fronts: it is late, and I have a full schedule tomorrow.

...I guess that settles it then. Good Night Shaurya.

...MS, one thing before I go.

...Bolo

...As a whole, workplace romances in the US are generally frowned upon; I just wanted you to keep that in mind in the days ahead.

... What?

...Good Night Dost.

**********

That had constituted the first of a series of chats that they had had. Although still holding her cards close to her chest, MS was methodically working through his childhood; pushing him to disclose even the tiniest, what he imagined, the most insignificant of details. Things he hadn't considered in years, he was now relaying, and in doing so, finally grasping how the incidents of his youth had molded him. It wasn't an easy process, and although he hadn't admitted it yet, it wasn't only she who was on a learning curve to understand his inner-workings. Penning everything down and seeing in on the screen of his laptop or on his mobile this morning, made it all seem that much more real: more relevant. His relationship with his father, had particularly been an agonizing dialog, with MS insistently demanding much from him in this regard, and still he had no clue how she felt about what she was learning. He could only take solace in that they were still at it.

***Ping***

And then there was this.

Shaurya fastened his jacket, and picked up his mobile. MS would be signing off, with it now time for her to retire, and he off to the office, but first would be the final pearl of wisdom totally unrelated to their exercise, but still in his eyes incredibly important.

...The company does very stringent background checks. The fact that he has made it through HR vetting proves he is a decent guy.

This was a good one, Shaurya admitted: a very good counter to his last excuse to discourage her from even contemplating anything more than a professional relationship with her colleague. What had begun on a serious note, had somehow evolved to their own running joke, at least on her end. He meant every word he typed why fostering a connection with the infamous Chef Malik would be a doomed effort. He only hoped it would be enough when the man finally worked up the nerve to actually ask her out. Actually Shaurya expected it to be very soon. He would definitely need to come up with the consummate excuse in the near future, one MS could not dismiss.

...Have a good day, Shaurya.

...Sweet Dreams, Dost.

Chapter8