MehRya SS: Forbidden - Ch5 Teaser pg 14 04/08 - Page 8

Chapter #4

Chasing after and interrupting an amorous couple seeking a private moment alone was not the norm for Shaurya Khanna, and frankly he was irritated at the prospect of doing so. However, considering that he had been playing a game of cat and mouse with an elusive female for just over thirty-six hours desperate measures had become imperative. Since she would be gone in another two days, this evening was his best chance, so Shaurya had for the first time since his uni days, crashed a party. And now this madness, he thought as he trekked along the pink-sand beach. On the other hand, surely the girl who had directed him to where Mehek Sharma and her male friend had squirrelled themselves away wouldn't have done so if it really was a secret rendezvous between two about-to-be-parted lovers.

"Ah Laddoo, I knew you would have a special goodbye in mind for me, but this is... wow...come here baby..."

"Shit," Shaurya muttered. So much for thinking...hoping...that this wasn't exactly what it sounded like. But it seemed that it was. And to make matters worse, just as those words reached his ears, Shaurya had passed through an almost hidden opening in the rocks: ironically the same grouping where Vicky had tumbled from and came face to face with the couple. He quickly scanned where he was: a very secluded cove... beautiful on its own, but now complimented by a scattering of rose petals and several lit tiki torches was the perfect setting for a tryst. His arrival was immediately observed by the woman he had sought: a woman that to his utter disappointment, he immediately recognized in return.

"Tum!!!" she shouted at him.

The man who stood too close to her in Shaurya's view, looked over his shoulder in confusion and then anger. He rotated so that Mehek was firmly behind him. "Oi mate, who the hell are you; what do you want?"

"It's him!" Mehek insisted, her voice full of disgust and not a little fear. Shaurya immediately spoke up.

"Wait, I can explain..."

"Him...him who Laddoo...wait is he the guy ... The pervert?"

******

The day before...

In the twenty-odd minutes since he had left the hotel, Shaurya concluded that bypassing the resort gym for an actual run, was the best decision he could have made. Already, the uncanny feeling he had woke up to, had begun to dissipate: almost dispelled by the combination of enjoying nature at its finest and a rush of endorphins. He checked the time, seeing that his long steady stride had carried him the three-mile distance to the turn-off that led to the trail spanning the backside stretch of beach he had been told to look for. He was making excellent time and provided he kept this pace, he would have enough time to run the western bound trail back towards the hotel and ready himself for his tee-off time. Admittedly still antsy for reasons he had yet to figure out, he was in a far better state than if he had done nothing. Working out had always been his go-to to relive stress, and this morning was no different. Even still, Shaurya wished he could lay a finger on what had him feeling so off today. It wasn't Vicky: an early morning telephone call to the hospital had allayed that worry. His brother had passed a quiet night although he had to ask for some pain meds after they had left; something not unexpected. After getting that news, Shaurya had then taken the time to re-review the formal proposals he would give out later today...nothing wrong there, and to tell the truth he was hardly bothered by the upcoming meeting, so neither was that an avenue for concern. Which left him where exactly, Shaurya wondered. He was at a total loss as to why he had risen at such an ungodly hour feeling so restless...needing something... but the run was helping.

He was approaching the border of Horseshoe Bay Beach just as the dusky blues and rose tinges gave way to the golden hues that would claim dominion over the sky and paused. The salty air beckoned, and he had been unable to resist the pull of the ocean any longer. Diverting from the path, he followed the sound of the ocean and headed for the shoreline. The sunrise would hit in minutes, and it would be a damn shame to miss this, he thought. His runtime was still holding steady...so what the hell, he could spare another minute or so. Maybe the commune with nature was exactly what he needed. If nothing else, his mother would be happy to hear that her workaholic son had actually enjoyed a sunrise.

*******

Rising out of the warm sea, Mehek took a deep breath and let out a squeal of excitement that echoed across the now sun-lit beach. Swimming closer to the rock base, she reached for and wrapped one arm around the rope that some intrepid local had installed a longtime ago, for the daring few to ascend the cliff after they jumped so they could repeat the effort: should they dare. She was grateful for the rope, as the waters at the base of Peel Rock were well over the five-foot depth she had to contend with yesterday, and she was not going to risk losing the treasure she had been fortunate to have located in the first place by handling it while treading water. Holding fast to the thick cord, she switched the small case she had dove up into that hand and then raised her swimming goggles. Wiping her face first, she then reached to unzip the waist pouch she wore so she could secure the bespoke glass ring box in it. Once she had, she double checked that the pouch itself was secure for good measure. Only then, when she was sure that it was, did she grab the rope with her other hand to relax in the gently rocking waves and catch her breath for a while. She smiled in triumph. Of the two things she had volunteered to search for, the exquisite diamond ring in its customized glass case was the one she thought little chance of finding; especially after yesterday's stormy weather. But she had, just when the day had begun. Her lucky break had come when the first rays of sunlight cut through the water to illuminate the metal frame of the glass box on the ocean floor. If her luck held, Mehek thought, perhaps she could go two for two. Although Vicky's mobile paled by comparison to the gift for his intended, not to mention that the device was probably inoperable anyway, Mehek would love to be able to locate and return it as well. The only problem was that she was pretty sure that the phone was not in the sea. Her morning dive had been extensive and there had been no sign of it. Surely the much larger item would have been more visible. Perhaps one more dive would do the trick she thought, before thinking better of it. She had risked enough diving alone at a time when the beach was deserted and to be honest, she was a bit tired, factors that made a bad combination for a lone swimmer... no, she would count her blessings in having pin pointed the more valuable of the two items and be satisfied with that. With her decision made, she released the rope and began swimming to the shore. About fifteen feet from the beach she stood in the waist deep water and started to walk in.

And that is when she spied him: the lone man standing in sand, practically in the exact spot where she had left her belongings...staring...just staring.

His fixed glare compounded by the fact that he didn't acknowledge her awareness of him unnerved her. She swallowed and tried to guess his intentions, as he focused on her in total silence; making no attempt to greet her. Despite the summer heat showing itself already that morning, Mehek began shivering as she felt completely under the microscope. She was sure he could sense her uneasiness, and still he just watched her. Quickly scanning the still empty beach, Mehek considered her options. She was tired and he looked fit...too fit for her to handle if he had ill intentions. Figuring her best odds were to stay in the ocean, Mehek retreated a few feet and sunk back into the water. The act proved the catalyst that finally broke through the stranger's stupor, and he simply nodded in her direction and then jogged off towards the trail just beyond the dunes, leaving her more disturbed than she had even been in her life.

*******

"Is this the pervert, Mehek?"

The question pulled both Shaurya and Mehek from their collective memories.

The Pervert.

Okay, Shaurya thought wryly, he probably deserved that one, for the complete jackass he had been. He took a step forward. "I can explain everything, Mehek," he repeated.

The boy standing in front of Mehek Sharma held out a hand stopping him. "Woah mate, she doesn't know you, so how the hell do you know her name?"

"Easy now... She... the both of you," Shaurya said suddenly realizing the identity of the young man, but keeping his eyes on the beautiful girl standing behind her incensed friend. "You rescued my brother a few days ago. I'm Shaurya..."

"Bhaiyaa," Mehek finished for him. "You're Shaurya Bhaiyaa?" She watched the man grimace at her reference.

"Shaurya," he insisted which she promptly ignored. Since she had no clue what Vicky's brother looked like, she had to trust he was telling the truth. "So, why didn't you say anything the other day...when...when I was swimming, Bhaiyaa?"

"I had been out for a run. Just by chance, I came to the beach, and I heard you...by the rocks. I wasn't sure if you needed help. After what happened to Vicky, I didn't want to leave someone in trouble there on an empty beach, so I stayed just in case. Afterwards, when you came in...I" He paused as if he was seeking the right words. "Honestly I didn't recognize you," Shaurya answered. "Outside of your lifeguard suit, you, uh look... a bit different... And it's Shaurya, not Bhaiyaa," he reiterated, refusing to let that moniker stick, even if she was taken.

A hint of the same look he had given her that morning returned to his eyes, and immediately Mehek blushed under his scrutiny. In the meantime, her friend, who had suddenly found the hilarity in the situation, decided there was no real threat to defend and, laughed out loud. "Wait Dude, tell me: was it the turquoise bikini: halter top...boy-short bottoms." Shaurya's turned his attention to the young man. Ben nodded, figuring he was right. "Yeah Laddoo looks really hot in that one. We all like that one...the fit is just perfect," he added suggestively,

It wasn't the type of comment a decent man would dare make about the love of his life to another man, let alone in front of her. However, it was certainly one a good pal would, corroborated by the fact that Mehek thumped the chatty man hard on his shoulder. "Jerk-wad, that is exactly why no nice girl wants you, Idiot. Get out of here Ben!' She pushed him away from her.

Witnessing her fury. Shaurya dared to crack a smile at the thought that they weren't a couple after all.

"But what about our goodbye, Doll,' Ben asked mournfully, indicating the spot she had brought him to.

Although he believed he had the lay of the land now, Shaurya too waited for her response. The fact that the cove was decorated obviously meant something. "Forget it. I've got a better prospect, to share this with,' she replied nodding her friend away. "Give me fifteen minutes tops.'

The boy suddenly became serious. "You sure about this, Laddoo? I can stay if you need me to."

Mehek nodded. In turn, Ben turned around and offered his hand to the foreign visitor. "Nice to meet you Shaurya. I'm glad to hear your brother is recovering."

"In no small part due to you. Ben is it? My family is most grateful to you as well."

"Hey, save the bulk of the praise for our Laddoo, she is the deserving one... and don't even deny it girly. Now time to eat," he added rubbing his hands together as he made good his exit.

"Don't eat it all. Ben, I didn't cook just for you," she called out in conclusion, before turning around with a smile. She held out her hand. "Perhaps we should do this properly," she said. "Hi, I'm Mehek Sharma." He took her hand. At last he was meeting the angel, he thought, holding her slim hand more than actually shaking it. She didn't seem to mind. "Shaurya Khanna," he returned.

She blinked when he spoke, and unconsciously nibbled on her lower lip. His voice had deepened to a tone that set hundreds of butterflies to flight in her stomach. "Shaurya... not Bhaiyaa," she added.

"Absolutely not...I just don't think it would be suitable for the surroundings, do you?"

********

The word audacious came to mind as he listened to the proposal plans she had formulated: complete with a live mock-up, that she had come up for Vicky on the premise that he really should forgo his original site idea. Shaurya didn't disagree but was still intrigued that she had done all of this for a couple of strangers, and now seemed to think that he should be the one to execute her plan. As she went on describing the romantic scenario she had in mind, he decided that he liked audacious; in her at least.

"Well, what do you think," she asked, when she finished.

"It's a public beach, how will you guarantee the privacy needed in the first place?"

"No problem, just an easy permit from the Parks Dept. which the Lifeguards fall under," she stated as she began pulling up the torches now that she had extinguished them. She motioned for him to do the same with the other ones, after her hands were full. "I have a friend who works with one of the local florists, and you can easily setup an IPod in advance. I have a playlist of romantic songs that would be perfect." She smiled. "Unless you think something live will be better, maybe a violinist or a perhaps a flautist."

Shaurya wondered if the vibrant woman was used to getting her own way all the time, but he couldn't fault her sincerity...nor her idea, he imagined that Nehal would love it. However, since he couldn't confirm that there would be an actual proposal, he deferred answering. Instead, he merely followed her, his hands full of the torches he had relieved her of, back to the gathering that had grown in size since he had first arrived. Absently she pointed to the spot she wanted the tiki torch set, and after he did, followed her, and repeated the process of pushing them down in the sand until they were all set up and lit for her going-away party.

"Would you like to stay for a while, Shaurya? Listen to some music, have some food...dance."

"If Ben has left any, food would great. Your cooking is pretty good."

"How...aaccha Vicky," she guessed of the food she had taken when she returned to the hospital: bearing a meal, and the engagement ring to the young man who thought the latter lost for good. "That was very nice of him to share."

"Insisted that I tried it, actually. It was delicious," and still hot, Shaurya thought thinking that he had to have missed her by mere minutes when she left the hospital yesterday. And then was the strange visit to her home with Maa last evening. Again, another futile effort as Mehek had just left to spend the night with her best friend, but it had been an interesting interaction with her family. One that had only whetted his appetite to meet her, or rather increased his desire for it. Whichever it was, it had certainly been worth the wait. And that is something he would not associate with most women.

"Sure, I can stay for a while."