||Mile ho Tum Humko|| MehRya FF -LastChptr Pg148 17/Oct/18 - Page 102

CHAPTER 14

Sun was still young and soothingly shining when Mehek got ready for the day. When she woke up and look around, she found Shaurya sleeping peacefully on the couch. She reminisced days when she would open her eyes to find herself in his arms or cuddled into his warmth. Sadly, with those sweet memories rushed in the bitter truth of his betrayal as well. She rebuked herself for reliving the past which gave nothing but pain and agony. When she was about to exit the room , his voice startled her, " What are you up to?". " Going to kitchen", she replied in few words to keep their communications to minimal. He stretched himself and smiled at her, "I missed your morning tea. Please bring me one ". "As you say", she replied coldly like a servant. "Mehek...", he tried to talk further but she ignored and walked away. She hurried to kitchen and met Karuna & Awara supervising the staff in kitchen. Mehek was familiar with the morning routine and was eager to help. Partly because it will ease her mind and partly because she missed it. She smiled warmly at Karuna and Awara. Though Awara returned it amicably, Karuna chose to be distant with a disapproving nod. "Can I help?", she asked Awara. He was about to agree when Karuna stealthily refused. "No need. You are guest here. ", her stern words hurt Mehek. She earnestly wished for the motherly care & concern Karuna had bestowed on her while she acted as Saurabh. Seeing her sorrowful face, Karuna quickly added to compensate, "You are unwell and need to recuperate. It will be better if you relax and take rest. We have enough staff for household chores". She moved back attending to breakfast preparation while Awara gave her a sympathetic look. Mehek informed him about Shaurya's tea and stood indecisively. "Are you hungry, Ladoo?", he asked affectionately. Being addressed by her pet brought tears to her eyes but she shook her head in denial. "I will be happy to have a cup of tea", she replied on his insistence. Awara knew that Karuna was avoiding her and trying to drill down the point that Mehek is not welcome in Khanna Mansion. He understood it will be better if Mehek stayed away from her for a while. "There is a library near the hall that holds good collection. I am sure you will be able to occupy yourself without being disturbed", he informed after serving her tea. She nodded, finally took cue of her dismissal.

Mehek sighed and curled into the arm chair. She was never a bookworm and books seldom enticed her unless it was related to cooking. Yet she found solace in the solitude provided by big room which was rarely visited. She was unable to think about her future. It will be a big blow to her self-respect if she chose to stay in Khanna mansion along with Shaurya being married to Nikita. Same time she wondered how she will survive in case Shaurya sets her free. She had no home or family to turn to. Painfully she realised her fate was similar to her mother; endure a shameful life of a mistress. Although she loved her mother, deep down she had considered her to be weak and cowardice to spend her life under mercy of her so called stepfather. But today she realised her mother's plight and begged for her forgiveness while tears made way through her cheeks. "You look a lot like your mother", she was woken from her trance by strong patriarch voice. She quickly wiped her tears and stood up. She recognized it was Harish Khanna, Shaurya's father. Still she recalled Shaurya's instructions to fake memory loss and kept quiet. She may hate Shaurya but she was aware of the constant danger lurking around her. "You father was a good man", he walked passed her pretending to search for a book, " and a proud one too". It was evident that he was not interested in books but wanted to converse with Mehek. "I wonder what he would have gone through if he had known about your current stature. Probably killed him to know that his daughter is taking advantage of my son's unruly infatuation ", Harish tried to instigate her. Mehek held on to her dupatta, trying hard not to hurl a heavy book onto his despicable smirk. "Anyways it doesn't matter, does it?. He is dead and you have amensia. Perfect excuses to leech on to a rich young man", he insulted her again. She took a deep breath but tears betrayed her again." Your tears won't melt me Mehek Sharma. A women who chose indulge in an affair with a committed man, is far from innocent", he bullied her. "I don't want to stay beside him. He is holding me against my wish", she managed to utter without damaging her cover. "Interesting", he came closer and studied Mehek. He checked whether she is faking but knew she was truthful . "If you are honest then I can help you. I can send you away, somewhere safe and comfortable", he suggested. Mehek was doubtful, "Why do you want to help me?". "I am not doing it out of goodwill but compulsion. Shaurya's marriage to Nikki is crucial for both families and our business", he explained and she got convinced. She dropped herself into a nearby chair and sobbed silently. "There...there", he patted her shoulder, "may be I was a bit haste to judge you. If you really meant what you said then comply to my plan and I can set you free", he suggested and Mehek nodded.

Shaurya,

By the time you read this letter, I will long gone. I hope you understand that I cannot go on with this shameful life. It has given me nothing but pain & sorrow. So I have decided to take this bold step and leave this miserable cage you crated for me. Consider this as our closure and forget me forever.

Mehek

Shaurya stood numb reading her letter. He had decided to give her some space and opted not to search when she didn't return to their room. But for past hour he has been frantically looking for her, only to be disappointed by her pathetic letter in library. He picked up his phone and dialled Andrew. "Sir", he replied promptly, "they have just moved into the woods. I am closely following them yet keeping a safe distance", he informed Shaurya. "Good. Maintain the same until I arrive", he ordered and left to pick his weapon. He had anticipated Mehek's abduction however never expected it to happen with her absolute approval. Stupid stupid stupid , Girl, he cursed under his breath.

Mehek followed Harish Khanna into the woods. She had followed his commands and left a letter for Shaurya. Though she wrote is, it was literally dictated by Harish. She simply moved the pen as per his words. At the end she felt it sounded more like a suicide letter than a parting one. But she didn't care. All she wanted was to run away from Shaurya and his unfair obsession. Suddenly Mehek froze as they stood before cabin in the woods. A place from where her life had taken a drastic turn. "Do I have to stay here?", she asked dubiously." Not for long, if it all goes down as planned", he told and entered the cabin. Mehek was still not confident. Memories of Vicky's death and subsequent events poured into her mind. "Shaurya will be frantically searching for you. This is best place for you to hide for few hours until it cools down", he gestured her to come inside and she obeyed reluctantly. He allowed her to walk inside while he closed the wooden door.

Mehek glanced at the wooden bench in middle of the cabin. She vividly recalled Vicky and his painful death. Her eyes were moist and her breath became shorter. "He was so young. Yet he embraced his end gracefully", she sniffed. She heard Harish sighing and agreeing to it, "And poetic too. His last words 'the people you would take a bullet for, are the ones behind the trigger'. Bitter truth". Mehek nodded and wiped her tears but she quickly gained her senses. How did he know about it? May be Shaurya told him. But wasn't he tight lipped about Vicky murder even to his mother. Curiosity got better of her and she blurted out, "How do you know about it? It is highly unlikely for you to know it unless you were present here". Harish eyes narrowed while she walked backwards. "You were here, weren't you? Yet you didn't help him. It means you are ...you are the one. The one who pulled the trigger", she wailed. He took a deep breath and accepted her allegation. "Yes, Mehek. It was me".

"Why?", Mehek felt like a deer caught in trap but was furious. "I have to, Mehek. I love Karuna so much to lose her. Vicky was on the verge of destroying my marriage. I tried my best to pacify him but he was adamant", he went on confessing his sins to Mehek. "I was deeply in love with my wife and never intended to cheat her. But after Shaurya was born, she became aloof and distant from me. Her complicated pregnancy, delicate health and overprotective motherly love were to be blamed. She ignored me and chose to spend her time taking care of our son. Svetlana was staying with us for a while. I was never interested in her, neither was she in me. But on a fateful night under influence of alcohol, we crossed our boundaries. Vicky was conceived but i solved issue by quickly arranging for her marriage with her good-for-nothing boyfriend Sanjay. Eventually Sanjay knew Vicky is not his son but kept his mouth shut due to his pride and my money. They chose to live their life happily, leaving behind Vicky in Karuna's care", he told his tale. "Two brothers, unknown to their alike paternity grew up together", Mehek told sympathetically. "Vicky was always a threat to me. A constant reminder of my betrayal. I dreaded the day when Karuna knew about him coz she would hate me. I could never handle her rejection and hatred"", he sighed, "Finally, Vicky figured it out. He confronted his parents about their indifference towards him and Svetlana in a fit of rage told him the truth. That bi**h has a unruly tongue but was quick enough to inform me about the mishap". Mehek said sadly,"Poor woman. Unknowingly, she drilled last nail to her own son's coffin". "I knew he was secretly meeting Shaurya here. I confronted him and tried to reason. But he was not ready to keep his mouth shut. Atlast he gave me no option but to kill him", he accepted his guilt.

For a moment he seemed to be vulnerable but became rigid soon. "He pushed me and managed to run away. By the time, I found him here, you had managed to bring Shaurya alone with you. I waited outside, listening each and every word of yours until Vicky took his last breath", he narrated it. "You are a cruel man", she lashed at him. "I agree that I am. Only good thing left in my life is Karuna. I can't risk to lose her. I was never sure how much Vicky had conveyed to you or whether you had seen me in the woods. I tried my best to get rid of you but Shaurya always acted as your armour. Though he told me plainly to break his alliance with Nikki, few days later he came and agreed to go ahead with it. I am sure he was trying to throw me off guard to protect you. But alas it backfired. You came out in open, giving me opportunity to finish you off. Mr. Singh became my partner in crime. He was desperate to get his daughter married to Shaurya", he trod to her menacingly. Mehek shivered in fear and begged him to spare her. "I am sorry, Mehek. You are collateral damage. I have to kill you", he revealed rope and twisted it dangerously, "few hours later when Shaurya finds your lifeless body hanging here, he will be convinced of your suicide. An end at the very same point where it all started". Mehek shook her head vigorously, trying to make sense of the mess she had put herself into. He looped rope around her neck and tightened it while she tried her best to free herself. "Forgive me, Ladoo. Good bye", he applied force, pulling knot closer to her flesh.