||Mile ho Tum Humko|| MehRya FF -LastChptr Pg148 17/Oct/18 - Page 95

CHAPTER 13

The doorbell rang and Awara went to open it. Karuna became curious when he didn't return to announce the guest. "Who is it, Awara?", she asked still Awara remained silent. "Why are you keeping quiet?", Karuna rebuked and walked towards the door. She was shocked to see Shaurya at the door coz he was a with a woman. Not just any woman but Mehek, Meera's daughter. Karuna's temper rose but she didn't fail to notice distressed status of Mehek. She looked pale and weak. Her forehead and arms had bandages which covered fresh wounds. Her pale color salwar kameez added to her sorrowful condition. "What happened to her?", being concerned she walked towards them. Mehek didn't meet her eyes and held her head low. Though Karuna was angry, she couldn't bring herself to scold them. "Ma, I will tell you everything. Please let me bring her inside", he appealed. Karuna nodded and let him lead Mehek to his room. While he made her rest on bed and covered her with warm duver, Awara & Karuna waited for answers. "Mehek was attacked, someone tried tried to kill her", he told them. "What??? Why?", Karuna exclaimed. "Coz she is sole witness to Vicky's murder. I am sorry Ma. I disobeyed you when you asked me to send her home. I kept her hidden under my protection. I knew Vicky's killer will try to harm her. I tried to take a calculated risk to capture the killer but things didn't go well and Mehek was attacked. She had severe head injury and lost her memory", he told Karuna. "Oh, poor girl", Awara sympathized. Karuna sighed and gave a stern look at Shaurya, "You should have left her when I asked you to do so. It would have been better". When Shaurya tried to reason, she showed her hand, "Let her rest for now. But we need to take some decisions soon. Don't forget that you are to wed Nikki in few weeks". She turned to Awara, "Prepare the guest room. Mehek will be shifted there and arrange a maid for her care". "No, Ma. Mehek will stay with me in my room", Sharuya was adamant. "Shaurie!!!", she raised her voice but he countered with his firm resolute. "I cannot take any more risks. She is will be beside. That's final", he declared. "I will inform your dad. He will arrange protection for her", Karuna reasoned. "They are not enough. Even my best bodyguard failed. I am not going to make the same mistake again", he told her. Though still angry, Karuna started to understand his concern and fear. "It is inappropriate for her to stay with you here. If Nikki or her family knows about it then they may break the alliance", Karuna was anxious. "Then better ensure that they are uninformed. I hope you will be able to manage it", a tint of challenge was thrown by him to Karuna. She shook her head in dismay and walked away. Awara stayed back to have a word with Shaurya but when Karuna called out for him, he had to leave.

Shaurya closed the doors and came to his bed. He sat near her and caressed her cheek. Mehek quickly opened her eyes and slapped away his hand. "Don't you dare to touch me", she warned him and sat up straight. "Mehek, please understand...", he tried to explain but she cut him in between. "I am not interested to listen to your excuses, Mr Khanna", she was furious. "Mehek!!", he raised his voice hearing her formal addressing. "No need to shout. My hearing is perfectly fine. My helplessness had compelled me to stay with you in this dirty act of yours. But never assume that I will fall for your tricks again", she spoke vehemently. "Mehek, I did everything inorder to protect you", he told bluntly. "You are a good liar and an actor. I personally witnessed how to you duped your own mother.I don't trust you", she accused him. "I did for you. I had to lie to Ma to bring you back here", he defended. "Your reasons are good for you, Mr Khanna. But be assured that I done being your toy. The abuses I had suffered is enough to sustain for a life time", she sobbed. "Mehek, I am really sorry", he apologized. "You don't deserve my forgiveness. Infact you don't deserve even my hatred. I don't want to feel anything for you", she was clear. He pulled her by her wrist, making her crash on his chest. Her tears spilled on to her cheeks realizing her vulnerability. When he tried to wipe them, she turned away. "If you chose to force yourself on me, then I will kill myself. And this time I won't fail", she threatened. Hearing her piercing words, Shaurya quickly released her.

Flashback

A moment was all he had. He was lucky to act in that moment to save Mehek. When Shaurya reached her room, he was shocked to see her on the window pane. His reflexes kicked in swiftly to save her from the fall. He still couldn't comprehend how he managed to reach near her and pull her down. Mehek was unconscious and doctors rushed to her side. They soon declared that she was fine but under shock. Her body was finding it difficult to cope to the trauma she had undergone. Shaurya waited patiently beside her torpid body. His blood boiled recalling Rajeev's narration about the horrible misfortune she had suffered. He was indebted to his friend yet couldn't forgive himself. "Bro, you need to tell her everything", Rajeev advised. He shook his head, "No Rajeev. The lesser she knows the better she will be. I cannot afford to lose her. As soon as I am able to establish that she witnessed nothing during Vicky's murder, she will be free of this ordeal. Exposing her to further secrets will harm her". "Then how will you justify yourself when she awakes?", Rajeev was concerned. "I will tell her only some part of truth. Just those which she needs to know", Shaurya was tensed.

But all his preparations were futile. Bcoz when she woke, she simply ignored Shaurya. He expected her to be mad at him but she remained cold. She didn't utter a word, she neither complained nor sought his comfort. Except for occasional nods and hums, she didn't communicate to him. Shaurya also chose to remain aloof, assuming she needed her space. He was taken aback when she reacted to Rajeev who paid her a visit. "How are you feeling?", Rajeev asked politely. "Better", she replied. Shaurya was glad to hear her voice, yet sad that it was not addressed to him. She quickly took Rajeev's hand and sobbed. Her behaviour astonished both Rajeev and Shaurya. Soon Shaurya's feelings changed to anger while Rajeev was stupefied. "Mehek, it's okay. You are safe here. No need to be afraid", Rajeev tried to console her. He could feel Shaurya's eyes boring into him. "Thank you", she uttered between her sobs, "Thank you for rescuing me from them. I can't even imagine what you have happened if you hadn't come". Her words made Shaurya extremely sad and guilty. "Rajeev, I am eternally grateful to you for saving my wife", Shaurya spoke. "I am nobody's WIFE", Mehek sneered at him. Shaurya was glad that atleast she put an end to her silent treatment yet her words worried him. Rajeev understood that they needed some lone time. He quickly excused himself and left them alone. "Mehek, please listen to me. Just for once", he pulled her to face him. He looked at her, her eyes reflecting her pain and questions, she had bottled up . "Mehek, I am really sorry", he cupped her face and she leaned on to his hands. For a moment she craved his care and affection but when she placed her hand over his, she noticed something hard on his finger. It was a ring. Soon realisation dawned to her and she pulled away from his grasp. "Congrats, Mr.Khanna. Roka Mubarak. Hope you will be happy with Nikitaji", she said in cold tone. "Mehek, I can explain. I had to...",he tried to reason but she shook her head. "I don't want to hear it", she closed her ears and shook her head vigorously, "Leave me alone", she yelled, Shaurya still tried to explain himself but Mehek screamed on top of her voice. Soon nurses and doctor rushed to her side to calm her while Rajeev pulled Shaurya away.

Flashback ends

Shaurya gazed aimlessly gazed through his window. He recalled how Rajeev was able to convince Mehek to return back to Khanna Mansion. He conveyed to her that Vicky's murder was behind her kidnap and Khanna mansion will be best place for her safety. Mehek refused blatantly but somehow Rajeev was able to make her see the reality. Mehek knew that she had no family or friends whom she could turn to for support. Although unwilling, she had to play her part in Shaurya's deceitful plan to catch Vicky's killer. She agreed to return to Khanna mansion pretending to suffer from amnesia. Still she was determined to keep distance from Shaurya. She never allowed him to justify his acts. She believed that none of his excuses will be enough to compensate her agony. She tried to be aloof and unaffected yet it hurt her deeply that he will be married to Nicky soon. Evenif it was all a lie, she found herself desperate to hear from him that she is his wife and he will not marry Nikki. She admonished her stupid heart which was all set to be crushed mercilessly under his treachery. "Tell your mother to move me to guest room", her words broke his reverie. "You can't do as you please", he said firmly. "You cannot tie me to yourself against my will", she was in a mood to fight. "I can and I will. Do not dare to push me, Mehek. I may do something that I will regret", he warned her. "Aren't grown tired of tormenting me? You snatched away everything- My heart, my dignity and my virtue. What more do you want from me? Do you want to me to serve as nanny for your kids borne from Nikki", she grew furious. Despite tension between them, her question brought a smile to his lips, "Kind of. More like mother of my...our kids". "By kids ,you mean your ba****ds", she spewed at him. "Mehek", he roared and raised his hand but left it half way. "Don't forgo the pleasure of beating me, Mr. Khanna. You have done far worse", she bit on to her her knuckles to suppress her sobs. He punched on nearby wardrobe to douse his anger."Sleep on bed. I will take the couch. Rest assured, I won't lay a finger on you without your consent. But you have to stay here with me. No more arguments on this matter", he declared.

"Karuna", Harish addressed his wife. She ran to his arms and wept, "Harish, I don't know what to do?". "What happened my dear?", he was anxious. "Mehek is back. Shaurya brought her", she said. It would have been an understatement to say that he was shell shocked. "What ???", he exclaimed but quickly composed, "How could you permit to give shelter her in our home, Karuna? Did you forget that Shaurya is betrothed to Nikki?". "I do, Harish. But I felt sorry for Mehek. Poor thing was attacked and gravely wounded. She had lost her memory. I couldn't turn my back on her", she explained to him. After listening to the whole story, he chose to reply, "I see your point. I will talk to Shaurya. For the time being, keep it under wraps and don't let it spill to Nikki or her father". Karuna nodded