||Tere Ishq ki Mujhko Aadat HaiS3||MehRya(dark)FF FinalPg109 16/Dec/18 - Page 16

A long chapter. Hope you like it. Happy Weekend 😃

Chapter 4

Shaurya wiped blood from his forehead and pressed hand towel onto the wound. With his free hand, he pulled out a new bottle of whiskey and drank from it. Alcohol burned his throat and pain throbbed his head but still he was unable to shake off huge weight of his guilt. He cursed himself for falling for her tricks and giving a window of opportunity to escape. He got weak before her charms, yet he was unable to explain the delight he experienced when she kissed him. For a moment, he felt light and calm. She made him feel truly desired and elate. So when he realised it was all a farce, he got mad. Eventhough he wanted revenge, he could never play with a woman's honour even when she is his sister's murderer. Yet he lost control and was on verge of raping Mehek. Fortunately he gained his senses and could reign his madness. He was ashamed of himself yet to cover his indignity, he lashed at her bitterly and humiliated her with insults. His culpability was worrying him and he sought to whiskey to escape his ordeal. He drank till lost his senses.

Many hours later, he could sense himself being moved and laid on couch. His head ached and body troubled him. He could perceive touch of wet cloth on his forehead and bandage tied around his head to cover his wound. He was slipping in and out of consciousness. He saw blurred image of a woman clad in cotton salwar kameez. "Smriti...Smriti", he whimpered while tears spilled on his cheeks, " I failed you. Forgive me. Please don't hate me". "Shsssh", a soft voice hushed him and lulled him back to sleep.

Shaurya felt parched. He drank water from the cup that was held closer to his mouth. He was still tired though still unsure how long he had been asleep. He thanked the person who gave him water and blinked his eyes for better vision. He was astonished when the face became clear.It was Mehek. He jerked away and looked around. She was siting on floor beside the couch. He touched his forehead to realise it was neatly bandaged. He glanced at table to find all keys intact and looked at her in disbelief. "What are you upto?", he asked her in suspicion. "I found you unconscious on dining table and helped you till the couch", Mehek explained. "Is that all?", he was skeptical. "You were bleeding and had temperature. So I had to dress your wound", she tried to explain again. He sat on couch and studied her, "Pray tell me, what did I do to deserve such merciful act from her highness?". She shrugged her shoulder and remained silent. "Answer me", he raised his voice. "It's not what you did. It's for what you chose not to do", she said softly. Shaurya was uncomfortable when she mentioned events of last night. He was unable to meet her eyes and sprang to his feet. He was about dash out of the house but felt a gentle tug by his hands. Mehek held on to his hand while she still sat on ground. "Thank you", she said earnestly. His felt his heart was being squeezed. She looked like a lost child seeking aid. But soon he recalled Smriti's dead face and his emotions faded away. He pulled roughly by her shoulder, "I don't need your gratitude. I need your pain. Do you understand?". Tears welled in her eyes but she refused to let them spill. She looked straight into eyes, making it difficult for him to rebuke. "Hell with you and your ruse", he pushed her and tried to move. "I was raped", her words froze him.

Shaurya was unable to take even a step ahead. He turned to face the shattered figure of Mehek on floor. She was broken but determined. It was evident that Mehek wanted to vent out her sorrow. Still he was skeptical why she chose him as the listener. "I was 15, enjoying vacation at our farm house. He took me to our stable on some silly pretext and raped me", she sighed as if a huge burden was lifted off her chest. Shaurya didn't know how to react to her misfortune. He chose to remain silent listener, letting her proceed. "It still hurts to recall that your virtue was forcefully taken away. But it is more agonizing when you know that it was snatched away by a man whom you considered as a brother", she muffled her sob, " Radha Tayi, she was care taker of our farm house. She was like a mother to me. I always looked forward to spend vacations with her. Her son was my playmate from childhood. I never knew when his feelings for me turned vile". Shaurya heard her drew a deep breath, "When Tayi found out, she was furious at her son but still chose to protect him and she immediately send him away. She advised me to stay silent to save our family name and my honour. I was too scared and hurt to make sense of anything and chose to keep quiet. But the horror was too much to bear. Slowly I started to withdraw to myself. I altered my personality, became vibrant and tried to believe that it didn't matter to me. Yet it was difficult and soon I found solace in drugs". She paused when she realised he had sat beside her. He kept his palm on her shoulder, "I am sorry". She kept her hand over his, "There was no escape. I fell into the trap and got entangled into the vicious web. Many men came into my life. All had their own set of excuses to exploit me, without caring whether I am willing or not. Soon I too became one of them. A monster who cared for none but herself", she told him. Shaurya couldn't help but move closer to her, with intention to pacify her. But he halted when noticed blood on her neck and chest. "Mehek, are you hurt? Did you bleed?", he asked pointing to them. She looked at her skin where he pointed and managed to smile through her tears, "No, silly. It's yours. You bled a lot from the wound I inflicted". He gave a sigh of relief and closed his eyes sending silent prayer. When he opened his eyelids, he met admiring glance from Mehek,"You are different, Shaurya. Unlike others, you had genuine reason to hurt me. Still you chose to refrain. You do care, even for me". "Despite the atrocities I suffered, may be some humanity is still left in me ", he told her and quickly asked her, "Why didn't you escape? You could have easily grabbed keys and left before I woke", he was curious. " I ...I think...You have earned my respect. I couldn't leave you like this", she explained. They had an eyelock but he was first to turn away when they heard knock at the door.

It was Shankar at door. He looked extremely nervous, smiled sheepishly. He didn't want to disturb his master but had no choice. "What happened, Master?", he asked anxiously seeing his wound. "Nothing. I...I fell", he lied, "what's the matter, Shankar? Why are you here?". "Kantaji called me as she was unable to reach you. She needs you come back home immediately", Shankar informed. Shaurya had kept his phone locked in car. He wanted to avoid any situation where Mehek could contact outside world. He cursed himself and dashed to check his phone.

Shaurya was driving like a mad man as he wanted to reach home quickly. He left his car outside the gate and walked briskly to meet Kanta chachi who was waiting for him at verandah. "Where were you?", she sounded impatient but quickly she became concerned seeing his wound, "What happened Shaurie?". "Just a scratch. Nothing serious",he tried to brush it off. Kanta quickly led him inside and pulled out the first aid box. "A scratch? It's a big wound. Thank God, atleast it is properly dressed", she wailed. Shaurya grimaced while she cleaned it and put a fresh dressing over it. She sighed and sat with her eyes closed. "Have you been drinking? Don't you dare to lie to me", she warned him. He kept his head low and admitted. "Shaurie, you are ruining yourself. Stop this madness and think about future. You tried to bring justice but failed. Now leave it to God to punish those sinners. Aarti needs you. You are all she got", she advised him. "Chachi, I understand. I promise I will be careful. Now tell me how is Mohit?", he tried to steer her away. Kanta sobbed, "He is ill again, Shaurie. Sonal, being pregnant cannot manage alone. I planned to go for few days but I don't think you can manage Aarti alone. I will ask Sonal to adjust for few more days". Mohit, her son was a heart patient. His wife, Sonal and Kanta Chachi has to work hard to meet both ends. Shauya though wanted her to take care of Aarti , couldn't burden her more. "I will manage for few days, Chachi. Please go and take care of Mohit", he told her. She looked at him doubtfully. He held her hands softly, "We will be okay. Trust me, I won't sc**w up". "Watch your mouth, Youngman", she rebuked him. He smiled at her, being happy to see her stern governess avatar. "Love you, Chachi. Now let me drop you till station", he offered but she refused. She took a taxi and left.

He drove his car into his garage and closed the doors. He carefully opened boot and checked the sleeping figure. He couldn't leave her alone or take risk of bringing her before Chachi. His home was in just an hour drive away from his plantation and cottage in it. He had to use chloroform on Mehek. He carried her carefully and brought her to his bedroom. Though he felt guilty at back of his mind, he tied her hands to bed post. He covered her with blanket and left to check on Aarti.

When Mehek gained conscious, she was alarmed to find herself in a comfortable room. It was not posh like her mansion yet it possessed an elegance. She was quick to notice the change in location and wondered where she was. All she could remember was Shaurya murmuring an apology before covering her mouth & nose with a cloth that smelled sweet. 'Did he send me back to father?', she became anxious but as soon as she tried to move she found she was bound to bed and understood she was still kept captive. She remained still and patiently waited for his return.

"Oh! You are awake", she was greeted by his calm words, "I thought you were still asleep since I didn't hear any sound from here". "I thought of relaxing a bit", she humoured, "Anyways I knew you would come soon". They both smiled while he untied and helped her to sit up. She rubbed her wrists to ease the discomfort while he felt awkward. She touched his forehead, "I could see that someone had dressed it nicely. How are you feeling now?", she asked earnestly. "Better", he replied and noticed Mehek was calmer. He wondered whether it was an elaborate plan or she was genuine. It would be an understatement that he was shaken by the story she had narrated yet he was unable to fully trust her. An abusive childhood could justify her twisted character still not enough to excuse murder of his sister. Meanwhile she looked around the room and asked him, "Is it your room?". He nodded. "Pretty clean for a bachelor", she praised him, "Is this your home? Where are we?", she asked him curiously. Her casual queries made him uneasy and he stood up, "You are still being held as captive, Ms Maan. So keep your cunning questions to yourself". "I didn't mean to pry", she tried to apologize but he didn't pay heed to it and rushed to the door. "Try to relax...until I come up with next method to torture you", he warned before closing the door.

Aarti was wailing continuously. He never found her so distressed but then again she was never left with him alone. Kanta chachi was always there for his support. May be it was foolish being overconfident that he could manage Aarti without Chachi. He was rocking her and trying to prepare milk but her cries were making it an impossible task. " Do you have a baby here?", Mehek's voice startled him. "How did you manage to come out?", he was taken aback. "You were so preoccupied that you forgot to lock the door. I didn't want to come out of the room but then I heard cries of a baby for quiet sometime and decided to check. I promise I had no other intention", she tried to explain. Shaurya was too busy to scold or be angry at Mehek. He needed to feed Aarti and make her rest. He was desperate and was ready to deal even with lady devil. "Hold her", he handed over Aarti to Mehek without waiting for her consent. Mehek held her awkwardly. She was not used to babies but may be her maternal instincts kicked in and she held her closely. "Shsss. Its okay. Pappa is getting your food", she whispered to her. Aarti too sensed change of hands and began to calm down to the feminine feel. Shaurya stood still for a moment as he didn't fail to notice the gentleness with which she spoke to the child. Aarti softly rubbed her mouth on to Mehek's bosom and Mehek became nervous, "Hurry, Shaurya. She is in no mood to wait". He quickly got back to his task. He filled feeding bottle with milk and brought it to Aarti. He tried to keep it on her lips and accidently brushed it on Mehek's body. In reflex, she quickly move away with baby. "Damn...It's very hot. How will she drink it without burning her tongue?", she rebuked him. Shaurya realised his folly and went back reducing temperature of milk. When he got back, Mehek had already moved from kitchen to hall with Aarti. She took bottle from him and checked whether it is warm enough to consume. She sat on couch and started to feed Aarti. Much to his delight and surprise, Aarti found comfort in Mehek's arms and slept off after drinking her milk. "Where shall I keep her?', Mehek whispered to him. He nodded his head and led her to nursery. She gently placed her on crib and came out. "Is there no one to help you? How could her mother leave her and go?", there was a tint of anger in her voice. "Her mother didn't leave her. She is no more. She was killed", Shaurya told her emotionally. "Shaurya, is she...is she...", Mehek was unable to covey it. He nodded, "Aarush and Smriti's child; My Aarti". Mehek covered her mouth with her hand to muffled her gasp. He smirked at her reaction yet soon he was surprised by her tears. She perplexed him. It was not tears of sorrow but tears of joy. Becoz she smiled through those tears and embraced him swiftly. "She is alive...Her child is alive", she said again and again.