||Mile ho Tum Humko|| MehRya FF -LastChptr Pg148 17/Oct/18 - Page 57

The idea is inspired from my favourite show-The Coffee Prince. Hope you like it 😉

CHAPTER 7

"Shaurie", Karuna cried when Shaurya entered Khanna Mansion. She hugged him tight and kissed his face, showering her motherly love on him. "Where were you these past3 days? How could you remain so angry at your mother to leave me in such despair?", she wailed. He pulled her palms and kissed them. "I am sorry Ma", he apologized. Karuna knew Shaurya was unhappy with Mehek being taken out of Khanna Mansion yet she never expected such a showdown from her son. After Vicky's funeral, he dashed out of their house without having a word. Their people could trace him in a club but past couple of days he remained unknown. "Karuna, relax now. Your son is back. Please take your medicines and proper food else your will endanger yourself", Harish advised her, "And you young man, meet me in my study by noon", he said firmly before leaving. "Come, I won't eat until I feed you", Karuna was adamant. "Ma, I bought someone with me", he told slowly, "I hope you don't mind, as I already promised that person could stay with us for few days". Karuna raised her eyebrow and looked behind Shaurya to see who was this mystery person.

A young Punjabi boy, with turban and stubble beard, appeared before her. He was a slender creature who looked extremely nervous, cladded in battered jeans and oversize sweatshirt. He carried a small backpack on his shoulder, giving him appearance of a school boy who was caught and brought before principal. But Karuna smiled at him, "Shaurie, who is he?". Shaurya gulped softly, being happy that his mother failed to recognize Mehek dressed up as a male. "Ma, this is...this is Saurabh Singh. He is a distant relative of my friend whose house I bought recently. Actually I was staying there for past few days and we met there", he paused while Karuan nodded. "He is in some trouble and came in search of my friend but found me there instead. I allowed him to stay there but he didn't want to take advantage of my goodwill and asked for a job. So I agreed to bring him here", Shaurya explained. "But what job shall we give him?", Karuna was puzzled. "He is a good cook. He can help in kitchen occasionally and he can be my valet", he suggested as he preferred to keep Mehek near him. Awara who stood behind Karuna was a little offended that mere boy came to take his place as Shaurya's valet, "Does he even know anything other than cooking ?". "It's okay, Awara. You can teach him. I am sure he will be happy to learn from the expert", Shaurya tried to praise Awara. Awara seemed pacified but still was unhappy, "Ma'am, we always followed strict background checks before recruiting anyone to Khanna mansion. I don't have a good feeling to hire this boy". Karuna knew he was speaking sense yet she didn't want to upset Shaurya. "Let's see, Awara. We will keep for few days and then take a decision. Meanwhile take him to servant's quarters, he can stay with others", Karuna said. "No, no, no , no. That won't be good", Shaurya blurted out surprising Karuna and Awara. Mere thought that Mehek will be sharing room with other male servants, send shivers to his spine. "I mean, I told you already he is not really a servant boy but my friend's cousin. So I feel it will not be proper that I made him stay in servant's quarters. Let him stay in my room for the time being", Shaurya suggested. "Are you sure, Shaurie?", Karuna was taken aback. Shaurya was a private person and never allowed anyone in his room. Though rarely but only Vicky was permitted to use his room. 'Probably in these few days, this boy has grown closer to him and he wants to protect him. May be Shaurie is trying to fill void left by Vicky', Karuna thought. She agreed, "Fine. As you wish. Awara take his luggage to Shaurie's room". "I have no other luggage", Mehek replied in her gentle tone. "His voice is a bit queer. Sounds girly", Awara was suspicious. "C'mon Awara. He is still a boy, stop taunting him", Karuna told Awara and looked sympathetically towards Mehek, "How will you survive with such less clothes? What happened to rest of your luggage?", Karuna asked. "I couldn't grab any when I was thrown out of my house", Mehek replied earnestly. Karuna's motherly care was affecting her and she couldn't lie She painfully recalled how she was pushed out of her house by her own Aunt. "What did you do to suffer such wrath from your family?", Awara asked firmly. "I was accused of spending night with another man", she blurted out sadly without thinking. "WHAT??", Awara and Karuan asked in chorus. "What Saurabh meant was that his family punished him for partying all night with his friends. Isn't it, SAURABH?", Shaurya asked firmly squeezing Mehek's shoulder. "Yes. That's what I meant", Mehek agreed and touched her beard and turban to ensure her disguise is intact. Karuna sighed in relief , "Okay, so you can stay with Shaurie and start from today". "Thank you, Maaji", Mehek foldes her hands and then touched her feet. "May god bless you. I wish you all the success", Karuna blessed her. Shaurya stood beside them with a heavy heart. 'Ma, I am sorry. I brought your Mehek under pretext of lies. Hope you will understand and forgive me', he said in his mind.

"Stop touching that beard of yours all the time", Shaurya rebuked her. They were alone in his room and Mehek was being uncomfortable with her disguise. "I will be caught in few days", she was anxious. "If you behave like this then you will be caught in few hours", he told her plainly. She shook her head in disapproval and moved towards the window. Sensing her distress, he came near her, "Mehek, we talked about it already. Your life is in danger and Khanna mansion is the safest option". "I understand. But why to cheat everyone ?", she asked. "Ma, may not have allowed you stay here if I brought you as Mehek. She...she...", he fought for words. "I got it. Having me here will jeopardize your wedding", she turned away. He sighed. He was unable to contradict her but it was also true that he had no intention marry anyone else other than Mehek. But she was so stubborn to accept it. He turned her to make her face him, "Mehek, trust me. I know what I am doing. I won't allow anyone cause any harm to your life. All will end well. Do you still believe me on this?", he asked. "I do", she replied but tore her eyes away from him. 'But I am sure my heart will be broken', she told herself.

After ensuring that Mehek is safely residing in his room , he went ahead to meet his father. "Where were you these days?", Harish asked seriously. "Somewhere away where I could find peace", he replied haughtily. "Don't take that tone with me, son. Your mother told me about that child bride of yours. What's her name?", he tried recalling. "Mehek. Mehek Shaurya Khanna", he replied firmly. "Rubbish. Your marriage holds no value. She is still a Sharma and you are getting married to Nikki", he declared. "I am not. I want to break the alliance", Shaurya was clear. "There will be consequences", he warned. "I know and I am ready to face them. You always taught me that a true leader needs to be know his mind and follow his guts", he replied. "Hmmm. In that case, good but you take care about it. It's your duty to break the news to them or else go ahead with the wedding. I will stay away from it", he instructed him. "I will do it myself. Just need sometime", Shaurya informed. Before he left, Harish asked vaguely, "That girl...Mehek. What happened to her? I know you took her along with you from the club". "Hmmm...She left. I helped her to return back to her stepfather", he lied carefully. "Still you don't want to get married to Nikki?", Harish was curious. Shaurya nodded, "Mehek has got nothing to do with my decision". "Very well", Harish dismissed him. Shaurya never trusted his father. He respected him not because he was good father but because he was a good husband. He truly loved his mother but apart from that he possessed nothing worthwhile. He was unable to risk Mehek's life by sharing his secret with his own father.

Once Shaurya left, Harish picked up his phone and called someone. "Keep an eye on my son...yeah you heard it right. Keep an eye on Shaurya, my son. He knows where that girl is...Follow him, find the girl and bring her to me...Be discreet and take extreme caution not to involve Shaurya".

"I will sleep on floor", Mehek spreading the bed given by Awara on floor. "Nonsense. You can sleep on my bed. This is not the first time we are sharing the bed. I didn't cross my limits then, neither will I do now", he told her. "I know but then I also recall how you twisted it before others", she retorted. "Still angry about it? I was drunk and besides what your scoundrel fiance of yours proposed was vile. Spending a night with him to prove your innocence", he was angry. Mehek agree it was preposterous but still it didn't justify Shaurya's act. "Mehek,can I ask you something?", he was timid. "I know what you want to know. I would never have done what Mandar asked me that night", she replied spreading sheet over her bed. "Ofcourse I know that. It wasn't what I wanted to ask", he was offended. "I never loved him. I just agreed to my family's wishes", she replied. "I know that too", he said plainly. "Then what is it that you wanted to know?", she was curious. "Don't you remember anything about me? I mean from our childhood days?", he asked hopefully. She shook her head. "I am sorry, I don't. I never remembered Sharma family either. I don't have much memories about my childhood. My stepfather was good to me but soon things turned sour and mother had to send me away. When I was grown up, he allowed me to stay with them but my mother was too scared for my safety", she explained. "Safety ? What do you mean Mehek?", he was anxious. "Nothing...", she paused and changed the topic, "Speaking of childhood days, I had a doll which my mom said I got it from here. A doll of an Indian groom, dressed like a prince. My Gudda. Probably only thing connecting my days I had spend here. He was with me for many years but then I lost him too", she sighed and slept off on her bed.

Her soft snoring, ensured her deep slumber. He moved to his wardrobe and pulled out an old, tattered leather case which was lying abandoned on a farther corner of wardrobe. He opened it to find a cute doll dressed up in bridal attire. He touched it lovingly, "You may have lost our memories and the parting gift we shared but I haven't. Eventhough they were pushed to a darkest corner, still aremy cherished possessions". He carefully placed it back and went near Mehek.