||Junooniyat hai yehi ||MehRya FF Final Chapter Pg 109 06/May/19 - Page 40

CHAPTER 7

Mehek slowly opened her eyes and found Noor drooping in an armchair beside her bed. She felt parched and tried to grab glass of water kept on the bedside table. Her movements woke Noor and she rushed to her side, "Mehek, how are you feeling now?". "Better", she spoke with difficulty and gestured for water. Noor quickly helped her to drink water. "Where am I?", Mehek enquired. "At my home. Shaurya brought you here last night", Noor told her. She explained how Arjun contacted Shaurya as they were unable to reach her quickly. Being a final year medical student, Noor was able to provide required medical care for Mehek as soon as she was brought in. Yet she felt guilty that she couldn't be there when Mehek needed her the most. "Take rest, Mehek. It's still few hours to morning. Call me if you need anything. I will be nearby", she tucked in Mehek. Tears rolled over her cheeks and Noor wiped it away quickly. "You are safe here, Mehek. Me and Arjun, we both are here for you", Noor consoled Mehek. She closed her eyes and tried to go back to sleep.

"Hope you like my cooking", Arjun served breakfast to Shaurya. He smiled and took a bite from it. Arjun sat beside him and said,"I am proud of you, Bro. You took the right decision to protect Mehek. I still can't believe her family could be so cruel to her". Shaurya silently listened to him. "It's time for you to man up and correct yourself. You are responsible for this entire mess, Shaurya. Tell her the truth about your feelings and let her decide", Arjun advised. Shaurya glared at him. In his drunken stupor he may have accepted to his father about his love for Mehek. But once he was sober he wasn't ready for it. Love made him weak and vulnerable before Mehek. It was not desirable for his ego. He didn't want to reveal his Achilles's heal to Mehek and was afraid she may hurt him. His pride demanded dominance and preferred her submission. Last night like a love sick pup, he wandered in streets to protect the woman he was madly in love but today his anger rose at her audacity to take him to court. "There is nothing to talk about feelings. She has to either agree to my proposal or stay the hell the out of my life", he told Arjun firmly. "Really? Will you be able to live without her?", Arjun was astonished. True, Shaurya wasn't ready to lose her but that doesn't mean he will accept it to anyone even to his best friend. Yet he was confident that Mehek has reached a point where she had to turn to him. Incase she chooses otherwise, he will ensure that all roads eventually lead to him only. "You are living in denial, Shaurya. Come out of it before it is too late", Arjun advised him. "Shaurya Bhai", Noor's voice interrupted them, "Mehek wants to talk to you". Shaurya quickly rose from his seat, leaving his plate. While he walked past Noor, she told him timidly, "Don't trouble her. She is still weak". He nodded and trod to Mehek's room.

Mehek sat on bed leaning against soft pillows that were arranged behind her. She felt weak but better. Noor had asked her to take rest and avoid any strain. Yet she wanted to confront Shaurya when she realised he was still at Noor's house. After a cursory knock, Shaurya entered. He studied her for a moment. While taking his seat, he recalled the day he had met Mehek for the first time. She was full of colour and spirit. Now she looked like a broken and pale version of her old self. He felt guilty coz he was responsible for her wreckage. Yet he was not ready to give in. He wished to comfort her but again his pride restrained him. "Thank you", she uttered, "I mean...for last night". "It's fine. I would have done the same for anyone", he lied. "Maybe. Still I want to express my gratitude", she told him. They sat in silence until he got up to leave, "if nothing else then...", he left it incomplete when she gazed at him sadly. "I need to know the truth, Shaurya. What happened that night?", she trembled. He laughed softly with sarcasm brimming in it, "Aren't you a bit late? Besides, you will never believe me. Then why bother to waste our time?". "I need to hear it , Shaurya. It shouldn't matter to you how I will perceive it", she was adamant. "Fine", he sat on a chair beside her. "Do you remember a guy named Rohit?". "My batchmate whose car you had smashed", Mehek suggested. "Yes, the same one. I got to know that he and his friends were plotting against you that night. Although I didn't know the details then.", he told her. "Why would Rohit do that?", Mehek was lost as she had no animosity with Rohit. "Simple. To get back at me for humiliating him. He knew we were...I mean you were special to me", he explained, "Anyways, after knowing it I couldn't just sit and relax", he told her. "Ofcourse. You are obsessed with your belongings", she sounded hollow. He shrugged his shoulders and continued, "I reached the venue as soon as I could. It took me some time to spot you. When I found you, it was unbelievable sight".

Flashback

"Laila main laila aisi hoon laila...Har koi chahe mujhse milna akela..."

Mehek twirled to the tune. She was enjoying the beats and shook her body in rhythm. There was nothing wrong in dancing while you are in party mood. Except when you are absolutely tipsy , standing on a table amidst the crowd . Most of the students were aghast but few were making fun of her craziness. Yet all knew that she will be laughing stalk in few hours. Few boys were already recording her performance in their mobiles. She still had a glass of drink when Shaurya came near her. "Mehek, stop this nonsense", he roared while trying his best to bring her down. "Oh, here comes Mr. Ruthless. Are you surprised that I am enjoying despite your best efforts to annoy me?", she was indeed drunk. "Surprise is very mild word to describe my current state", he sounded angry. "C'mon, Shaurya. Atleast for a night be nice to me. May be this will help", she bowed down and forced him gulp her drink. "Enough", he pushed it away after she made him take few sips. He raised his voice but she remained unaffected. "No, I am going to relish this night", she tried to be bold and drank remaining contents from glass. "Mehek try to understand. You are making a mockery of yourself", Shaurya pulled her forcefully. She wound her arms around his neck and laughed crazily, "Really? It's not me but you who is hell bound to harm me". Shaurya had enough and glared at the crowd who were witnessing it all. They all scattered while he roared at her and carried her away in caveman style. He managed to bring her to his room. He felt a bit dizzy but managed to hold himself. Mehek pouted when he put her down.

"Stupid girl", he rebuked her, "Are you even aware of the risk you had put yourself into?". "You are the only danger I face", she poked her forefinger at his chest, "Coz you are the bad guy. All others are so charming compared to you". "Wow! I am the bad guy. Me who saved you today is the 'BAD' guy. Kudos to your intelligence", he clapped his hands sarcastically while she nodded playfully. She quickly grabbed his cheeks in her palm and studied his face, "Coming to think of it, you are not that bad. Infact you are really good looking". Shaurya slapped away her hands, freeing his jaw. "This attitude is the problem. I hate you", she pouted. "Why do you hate me so much, Mehek?", he asked sadly.

"You really don't know, do you? Let me tell you", she started counting on her fingers, "You called me a fat nobody, you snatched away my first kiss, you punished me for a mistake of another guy, you isolated me, you disgraced me , you torture me with your possessive stupidity..."she went on and on, being on verge of tears. His heart squeezed by her acquisitions as he was guilty as charged. He grabbed her by waist and slammed her against his body. "Gosh, you have such a nice body", she admired him, moving her hands sensuously over his chest & abs. Unknowingly her innocent acts were turning him on. "Mehek", he push away her hands, "stop it", he squeezed her closer trapping her hands between their bodies. "Bad boy", she condemned him but burst into a drunken laugh. "What I shall I do to make amends?", he asked sincerely. Even in her drunken stupor her eyes widened in surprise.

He couldn't blame her as he himself was puzzled by his own words. Mehek smiled at him, "You need to be good to me. Be nice to me. Help me to make friends. Give me freedom to enjoy my college life. Treat me with respect. Stop calling me fat...", she went on again with her long list. But he didn't hear anything. His focus was on her plum lips that were just few inches away from him. He leaned forward and claimed her lips. He sucked her soft petals gently and subtly sought entrance to her mouth. But he became conscious to quickly withdraw and study her reaction. She smiled wickedly, "That was really good. Unlike the brutal assault of your first kiss. You should always kiss me like this".

He took it as an invitation and kissed her ardently. This time Mehek too kissed him back. She was an amateur yet she followed her instincts and responded her best by mimicking him. They fell on bed with Mehek being completely under his mercy. Yet he failed to notice any hesitance. It looked like she enjoyed every bit of it. Her arms snaked around his neck, pulling him closer for another kiss. Her dreamy moans and gasps , urged him to cross all boundaries. Passion and desired ruled his senses and he marked her as his.

When he woke up next day, Mehek was already gone. His head felt bit heavy but he could recall it all clearly. He had never felt so intimate and passionate with any another woman. Mehek was indeed dear to him. She was special and unique. He knew he was her first and found a feral satisfaction in it. A nagging guilt raised from corners of his mind that Mehek was inebriate when they got intimate. Yet he pushed it aside and reasoned that she wanted it and was pleasured as much as he did. Beside he always considered that she belonged to him and previous night was culmination of it. He was possessed by need to meet her. He quickly showered and got dressed for college.

Flashback ends

"I waited for you before you class room. But it got weird when I met you. You seemed to be upset and disturned. I felt puzzled. To manage situation, I tried to humour you as usual but you ran away. I thought you needed some space but never expected you will leave college", Shaurya told her. He studied her face to know whether she believed his story. Her face was emotionless but when she closed her eyelids, tears fell. With her eyes closed, she uttered, "I don't remember anything. I had a glass of juice at party and then when I woke up I found I had lost my innocence in your bed", she sniffed to glare at him, "No. You snatched it from me". He moved away unable to meet her accusing eyes. Mehek had always tried to implicate his sin but he had never felt guilty. Yet today he was desperate to reason his actions. "We were both drunk, Mehek. I got swayed...", he tried to justify. "Don't try to act as victim here, Mr Shaurya Khanna. I am not a fool to believe that a party animal like you lost his head in few sips. You were in your senses while I was...I was...", she stammered trying not to sob. "Fine. I accept. I had a choice but I took wrong path. I should have controlled myself but I didn't. I...I..I took advantage of you", he finally accepted his wrongdoing, "Does that make you happy, Mehek?". She covered her face and wept. Shaurya couldn't stop himself from hugging her to console, "Mehek, please don't cry". Unknowingly she leaned to his warmth and cried. But soon she realised her folly and pushed him away. He wasn't pleased by her response, "You have cause enough damage, Mehek. Come back to me. I can still provide you everything you need". She looked at him defiantly. He smirked, indicating return of the evil self, "Your family had disowned you. Friends have turned their back to you. My mother will never care for you any further. Whom do you think will shelter you? Noor? Are you sure? Afterall she is my best friend's wife". Painfully she understood the logic in his words. She was absolutely cornered and accepting defeat was only option remained.

"What will I be in your life if I return, Mr Shaurya Khanna? Your mistress? Your Girlfriend? Or some sort of use & throw kind of position?", she mocked him. He faced her angrily and replied, "My wife. We will get married in few days". Mehek was perplexed. Unlike before, she was utterly under his mercy. She knew she was in no position to bargain for marriage yet he chose to marry her. Mayhap sensing her turmoil, he added, "I wish to bind you to me forever". "Indeed. Till death do apart us", she uttered sarcastically. An alarm flashed on his face which she caught immediately. Before he could threaten her again, she informed him, "Rest assured, Shaurya. I won't kill myself. I accepted your proposal and will keep my side of bargain". He drew a deep breath with relief washing over him.