||Aadha Ishq|| MehRya SS- last chapter Pg63 30/Sep/18 - Page 17

CHAPTER 2 - Escape OR Entrap

Mehek staggered into her courtyard. She had covered herself with a woolen shawl. Her hair was messed up and make up smeared. She tripped on her heavy wedding lehenga but her mother rushed to her side to support her. "Mehek, meri bachi", she wept holding her close. Swati stood guilt-ridden and watched helplessly. "Ma, I want to rest", Mehek said weakly and her mother nodded. "You ill-fated wench. Why did you come back home after losing your virtue?", her father spewed at her. "She is our daughter. Where will she go? Whom will she turn to?", her mother defended. "She was better dead than shaming me. It's all my mistake. I shouldn't have given freedom to these chits. One ran away from her wedding, ruining my future and other came back after spending a night with her sister's groom, disgracing my name. Now I will be suffering due to their mistakes", he slapped his forehead multiple times. Swati tried to defend but Mehek's father rebuked her, "You are responsible for our ruin. I have lost protection of Dewaani Sahib aspiring favour from Ahawats. Now I am stranded amidst. Don't be shocked if either one of the them decides to set me ablaze alive". While he was busy cursing his own daughters & blaming their mother, Swati slowly led Mehek away.

"Mehek, are you... are you okay?", she knew it was utter foolishness to ask her. Mehek sighed and sat quietly on her bed. Swati helped her to remove the shawl. She noticed bite marks on her neck and torn blouse which hung by her shoulder. Mehek hissed in pain when Swati touched abrasions on her wrists. Sonal could never imagine Shaurya to be violent. He always dealt situations with cool head. But she had never witnessed fury of Shaurya as last night. "Mehek...", she whispered. "Leave me, Di. I need to be alone", Mehek told firmly. Swati had no choice but to comply.

Mehek stood beneath warm shower. It soothened her body but her mind was in turmoil. She painfully recalled their wedding night. He had dragged her to a decorated room and locked the door. She walked backwards while he leered her like a predator. She raised her fist to punch him hard but he blocked it skillfully and pinned her wrists to either side. He rubbed his face harshly on hers and slammed on her lips for a moment. "Leave me, Shaurya", she yelled breaking the kiss. He didn't budge. He pulled away her dupatta and torn shoulder of her choli, revealing curves of her bosom. "Help!!!Somebody help me", she called out. "Scream as much as you want, Biwi", he said menacingly. He pulled her hair to gain access to her slender neck and bit on it forcefully earning a screeching cry from her. "You are hurting me", she wailed with tears spilling from her eyes. He moved away but threw her down. He left her on cold floor and climbed on bed to sleep. She drew herself to a corner and remained alert incase he chose to abuse her again. But as hours passed she fell asleep and woke up by morning to realise Shaurya had already left her. His mother came to inform about her departure and kept woolen shawl on bed to cover her modesty.

"You are going to your maayka for pagphera", Jugraj Ahlawat's voice echoed in her mind, "But if you wish for your husband to bring you back then ask your good-for-nothing father to come here and beg on his knees". She kept head low before getting into their posh SUV. "If you chose not to return, then don't bother your father. Anyways Daddyji just wants is to humiliate your family further. So don't keep any high hopes that you are welcome here anymore", Shaurya told her softly yet firmly before closing the door, "As promised I am sending you back home. I always keep my word". He slammed the door and walked away without care.

"Suniyee", Mehek's mother carefully breached the subject, "Damatji, will come to fetch Mehek only if you go and talk to Jugraj Sahib". "Are you crazy? Do you expect me to beg before that heartless moron", he was furious. He didn't care about his pride but he knew Ahlawats just wants to disgrace him. Besides he was afraid that they will kill him for the shame caused by his daughters. "Society will shun us if Mehek stays home after her marriage. Her future will be spoiled", she tried to make him understand. He pinched bridge of his nose in frustration. He wished they had killed Swati and Mehek. If so he would have called for a riot, pretending to bring justice to his daughters. But Ahlawats played wisely. He forgave Swati and wed Mehek to his son. Society will applaud Ahlawat's benevolence and criticize Maan's inability to control his family. Rohit can be found and forced to accept Swati. But Mehek posed as a bigger issue and further trouble for him. He was aware that Mehek will not be acceptable to any respectable family. Keeping her at home or sending her to Ahlawat haveli were not feasible options for him. He had no choice but to run back to his previous lord, with an attempt to exploit his weakness for young girls. Mehek was no longer a virgin but still youthful for his tastes. "I will talk to Damaani Sahib and beg for his forgiveness. He will be able to find a suitable home for Mehek. Till then I will ask him take in Mehek and protect her in his haveli", he said. Mehek's mother was petrified. Kewal Damaani was a cruel abusive man and sending Mehek to his haveli was equivalent to killing her. But her protest and pleas fell on deaf ears.

"Go and save yourself, Mehek", her mother kept packed airbag on her scooty. Mehek hugged her tightly and wept, "I will come back for you. I promise". "Don't worry about me. I will manage as I am used to it. Study well and live your dreams", she blessed Mehek. "Mehek, please keep this", Swati placed a bundle of notes in her hands along with her jewelry. Mehek shook her head in protest, "This is your savings and you need it for your future. I am sure Rohit will arrive soon to take you. Don't forget that now you have to take care of him too". She smiled at her chivalry, "You need it more. I know it is not much but I please accept it". "Di", Mehek hugged her. "I am sorry for everything, Mehek. Please don't hate me", Swati implored. It was humane to feel malice for the sibling who caused her harm yet Mehek didn't want to pursue it. They both were affected alike. "It was never your fault, Di", Mehek consoled her. She sat on her scooty and wore her helmet. She gave a final glance to them and drove away.

COUPLE OF DAYS LATER

Mehek stood on queue to submit her admission forms. She had come with scholarship but studying in city proved to be really expensive. Though college fees and hostel fees were subsidized, she still needed more money for her expenses. She was determined to find a part time job to meet expenditure. While her turn came, she was aghast when clerk asked her to submit additional Rs 5000/- as special fees which was not covered under her scholarship. She tried to argue with him and admonished college for looting poor students. Few students in queue supported her but many were irked. "Ace colleges are expected to be expensive. If you cannot afford then better leave", Mehek froze hearing the voice still turned back to find its owner. It was Shaurya and she was shell -shocked. "Don't give those puppy looks. I am not going to pay for it", he mocked her while few students laughed on his joke. Their laughter got back her senses and her temper shot up. "Keep you filthy money and attitude to yourself", she rummaged her bag to gather money and managed to pay with her last savings. She had no idea how to survive for remaining month but was unable to compromise her self-respect before him. She glared at him and walked away with her head held high.

Shaurya sat alone eating his breakfast. He hated the food served in canteen. He missed his mom's cooking & her kitchen and wished to cook for himself. While he was trying to stuff the non-edible food down his throat, Mehek stormed to the seat before him. "If you think you can harm me further then you are a fool. This is city and not you father lair", she told him confidently. He threw his spoon down in anger, "Don't flatter yourself with so much importance. You were out of my life and mind the moment you left my house that morning", he spat at her. Myriad of emotions played on her face. He was good at reading people and Mehek's eyes always reflected her feelings. He could read confusion, relief and to his surprise a bit of disappointment. He took a deep breath to calm himself, "Look, we are done. You betrayed me and I punished you. That's it. I have no intention to pursue a life-long avenging mission for you. It's waste of energy and time. I am here just to study". "And of all the institutions, you chose the same college I got admission", she spewed at him. "Why not? This is best college. Not to forget that we both competed aspiring to be part of it. Why should I opt out to follow my dreams ? Although I don't have scholarship, my father could afford it. So now I am here , leaving behind all bitterness and betrayals", he tried to rub her wound. She didn't want to go further and sprang from her position, "Fine. If that's the case then I am fine with it". She wasn't a fool to believe him but didn't want to give away herself. "Mehek", he called out and she turned and looked at him. "All the best", he wished her. Mehek was trully taken aback as she could see traces of his old sweet self. She hesitantly asked him, "So are we friends again?". But he ignored, "No, we aren't . We could never be friends again".