Mehrya SS : One Last Chance Part 16 Updated 30/5 - Page 76

Part 14:

Its been more than a month now after his conversation with Mehak. In this one month, Mehak had distanced herself from him. Shaurya too didn't get time to talk to her as he was busy handling Aashima's event. Shaurya had to single handedly look after every detail as Rajeev was in Tokyo supervising their new cuisine restaurant. At times, Shaurya and Mehak would bump into each other in the corridor but Mehak like always would ignore him. He was used to her attitude now. He had accepted the fact she wasn't ready to forgive him but what surprised him was whether he really wanted to ask for her forgiveness.

Mehak knew Shaurya would try ways to seek her out to talk something but she didn't want to fall in his trap again. Aashima and Shaurya would visit the kitchen often to discuss recipes to be included in the event. She too would steal glances at them. It bothered her when she would see how Aashima purposely tried to throw herself at him. Sometimes, her hand would be on his shoulder or she would lean towards him to whisper something in his ears and Shaurya would simply nod and ignore her. One thing she admired about Shaurya was his ways of handling women. He may have been called a womanizer by the media but she had known how he kept women and desperate aunties at bay when they would come to his restaurant. He wouldn't flirt with any woman or flatter them with rich words. Maybe that is why women were more attracted to him.

Shaurya was on a video call with Rajeev in his cabin discussing about their Tokyo restaurant.

Rajeev: Shaurya u need to come down to Tokyo. The investors here want to meet you.

Shaurya: How is it possible bhai? Who will supervise this event?

Rajeev: This requires your attention Shaurya. I will fly down to Delhi next week and look after everything. You are needed here at the press conference for the soft opening. We can postpone the launch later but the investors are adamant to meet you. I tried explaining them but they too had a valid point. After all, they are investing their money in our business. We need to give them our time too.. What say?

Shaurya nodded in agreement: Fine. I will be more than happy to handle the restaurant's soft opening than entertain Ms. Singh's antics. So tired of doing that. I am only putting up with this act as I owe a lot to her father.

Rajeev laughed: Come on Shaurya, I can't believe you. Any man would love the attention from a beautiful woman like her and you are complaining about it? I am shocked!

Shaurya angrily: Oh please Rajeev, you know very well I don't like her. Her presence irritates me..Bloody show-off...Who wants her attention?

Rajeev: Well, you should ask this question to all the guys in our restaurant. They would give you a better answer.

Shaurya irritatingly: Who cares!!! Aren't we drifting from our main topic of conversation? Our Tokyo restaurant should be our prime focus..not some wannabe Page 3 spoilt rich papa's princess.

Rajeev laughed: Ok ok Shaurya..as you say. So shall I relay the message to the investors of you coming to Tokyo next week?

Shaurya: Sure. I will ask Riya to book my tickets for next week...Will talk to you later.

Rajeev: Have a nice day Shaurya . Bye!

Shaurya closed his laptop and asked Riya to book his tickets to Tokyo for next week. Shaurya checked his watch. It was 8 and time for him to leave. He had promised his mother that he would have dinner with her tonight. For the past few weeks, he hadn't got a chance to meet or talk to her. That's when his mother called him up today in the afternoon and requested him to have dinner with her tonight. Like an obedient son, he obliged.

He picked up his phone and headed towards the elevator. He was so busy in checking his mails on the phone that he didn't realize that the elevator door had opened.

He looked up from his screen when someone said - "Chalna hai?"

It was Mehak. He could recognize that voice anywhere in the world.

Shaurya smiled and entered the lift.

They were standing next to each other in complete silence. Shaurya didn't know what got him but he spoke: Next week, I am going to Tokyo.

Mehak looked at him surprised. She was saddened by the news of him leaving but she kept a straight face and said ok.

Shaurya fumbled: The stay maybe extended by two weeks...15 days to be precise.

He waited for Mehak's reaction. He himself didn't know what he wanted to achieve by doing so.

Mehak looked puzzled now: Oh ok.

Shaurya tried again: Hmm...It's the soft opening of my restaurant there I didn't want to go but those investors ..they want to meet me.

Now Mehak was getting confused with his explanations.

Mehak thought: Why is he telling me all that? Maine toh kuch poocha hi nahi isse?

Mehak simply nodded.

Before Shaurya could say something, the lift door opened and Mehak bid him good night and rushed outside to taken an auto back home.

Shaurya looked at her leaving in the auto.

Shaurya thought: Why did I tell her about my Tokyo visit? Did I want to see whether she would miss me or not? I wanted to ask her that but she ran away and this lift...baaki ke time itni slow chalti hai n jab chahiye toh jet speed...But why did I want her to miss me? I have become a confused soul now...a certified one Shaurya..Please get a grip on yourself before its too late!!

Shaurya took a deep breath and made his way towards his car.

15 days later :

After 15 days, Shaurya was returning to India after his Tokyo visit. In these days, though he had been busy attending press conferences and events for the soft opening of his cuisine restaurant, he had a lot going on in his mind - the constant thought of Mehak Sharma. Something had changed in him and the people around had noticed it too. When one of the journos had asked his view regarding few Japanese recipes, he seemed to be lost. He was so busy with his own thoughts that he didn't realize his assistant calling out his name. At times, Shaurya would lock himself in his cabin for hours thinking about her. No matter how many times he told himself to stop thinking about her, his heart just didn't seem to understand. At times in meetings, he would suddenly smile and his colleagues would look at him as if he had grown horns.

In these 15 days, he had come to the conclusion that a certain Ms. Mehak Sharma had occupied his thoughts and no matter what he did or tried, he was failing miserably in his mission to stop thinking about her. He had once thought of texting her but the next moment the flashback of his insult would remind him that his pride had been hurt. His frustration of not understanding what was happening to him had taken a toll on his health. He had been skipping his meals and grown weaker.

Now that he had come to his restaurant, his eyes were only looking for that one person who had been on his mind 24/7. Since his pride was bigger than his heart and his ego bigger than his head, he didn't ask about Mehak to anyone. It would look very shocking to anyone that Shaurya Khanna was enquiring about an employee. It was so against his reputation and he didn't want to ruin it. He headed towards the kitchen area looking for Mehak but she wasn't there. It was 10 in the morning and her shift usually starts at 9. Maybe she was in the pantry taking a break from her work. With that thought, he headed towards the pantry but he was disappointed again. He had a meeting with Rajeev in 15 minutes and he couldn't afford to be late for it. He headed towards his cabin.

The moment Shaurya entered his cabin, Rajeev hugged him tight: Missed you buddy.

Shaurya smiled: Missed you too bhai.

Rajeev: So how was your trip? I am sorry I couldn't talk to you yesterday. I was occupied with a lot of things here.

Shaurya: Its ok. I understand... You look tired. Is everything ok?

Rajeev: Ah..yes..nothing to worry about...It's the event of course. I understand now what you went through in the past one month..I have to agree with you that Aashima isn't an easy woman to handle.

Shaurya looked puzzled: Did she throw herself at you too?

Rajeev laughed: No, she didn't. She needs Shaurya Khanna not Rajeev Kapoor.

Shaurya rolled his eyes at that comment.

Rajeev: Anyways, I have to discuss few things with you. I have asked Riya to make the arrangements in the conference room. Shall we meet there in 5 minutes?

Shaurya: Aren't you coming with me to the conference room?

Rajeev: I forgot my phone in my cabin. Let me get it. See you.

Shaurya: Sure.

Rajeev made his way towards his cabin and Shaurya to the conference room. Riya had done all the arrangements well. It had been 20 minutes now and Rajeev had still not come. Shaurya dialed his number but he didn't answer.

Shaurya: What is taking him so long? Damn!

Frustratingly, he made his way towards the window and opened the blinds to see the outside view. He saw Rajeev talking to a woman. He couldn't see her face as she had her back towards Shaurya. She handed some envelope to Rajeev and shook hands with him. He tried to look attentively to figure out who the woman was. When she turned to look for an auto, he saw her face. It was Mehak. His heart overflowed with joy. He couldn't stop himself from meeting her. For the past 15 days he had gone insane thinking about her and now when she was so close, he couldn't leave the chance to meet her. He pressed the elevator button restlessly and waited impatiently for the lift. He couldn't wait any longer. What if he misses her? No, he couldn't take that chance. He went running down the stairs. By the time, he reached downstairs Mehak had already sat in the auto and left. He was gasping for air to breathe. Rajeev looked at him surprisingly.

Rajeev: Shaurya, what happened to you? Why did you come running down here?

Shaurya: Ah...who..Mehak...thi?

He was trying to breathe between the words.

Rajeev: Are you ok Shaurya? Yes, that was Mehak.

Shaurya: Why did she leave? Is she not feeling well that she is going half day?

Rajeev seemed surprised with Shaurya. When did he start caring about his employee's health?

Rajeev: No that's not the case. She is completely fine.

Shaurya: Then?

Rajeev: She had come to give me the card...that's it.

Shaurya: What card?

Rajeev didn't understand Shaurya's impatience.

Rajeev: Her wedding card of course.

Shaurya (shockingly): What wedding card?

Rajeev: Mehak's wedding is on the 30 th of this month...after 15 days. She had come to invite me for her wedding.

Shaurya felt devastated hearing about her wedding. Her wedding wasn't an unexpected event. He remembered that her wedding had been postponed by few months and she was eventually going to get married to Ajay Parmar but why did it pain him so much. The thought that she would be married to someone else in 15 days shook his world. Looking at Shaurya's expression. Rajeev assumed that maybe he felt sad coz Mehak didn't give him the card. He tried to defend Mehak.

Rajeev: I am sure she didn't know that you had returned to India. Agar use pata hota toh, she would have given you the card. Its ok. I think there has been an error on her part. You don't worr...

Shaurya just left from there looking lost. He didn't hear what Rajeev said to him.

Rajeev: Shaurya Shaurya listen...

Shaurya: Cancel the meeting Rajeev . I m going back home.

Shaurya was in his room thinking about Mehak. Why did it bother him if she is getting married? Tht was the deal they had agreed on when she decided to join his restaurant as a chef. She would work with them till she gets married. Then why was it difficult for him to accept that fact.

He closed his eyes and laid down on his bed.

Shaurya thinking: She can't leave like that? Shouldn't leave...what do I exactly want? I can't understand myself now.

He needed answers and he was done with his inflated ego. After giving much of a thought, he came to the conclusion of calling her once. At night, he dialed Mehak's number.

Mehak was in her room uploading few pics of her recipes on her facebook account when her cell rang.

She looked at the caller id and was surprised to see Shaurya's name. She was hesitant to answer his call. She wasn't able to decide whether she should answer his call or not. By the time, she could make her decision, her phone stopped ringing.

Shaurya decided to call her again. This time after two rings , Mehak answered the phone.

Neither spoke anything. Shaurya didn't know what to ask and Mehak didn't know what to say. Even though Shaurya didn't speak anything, Mehak figured out that he was disturbed. She waited for him to talk but he didn't. Letting his frustration out, he threw his phone on the floor. He got up from his bed and threw all the things that were kept on his table. Hearing noises from his room, his mother barged in.

Karuna Maa (in a concerned voice): Shaurie what happened? What is wrong with you beta?

He picked up the vase and was about to throw it on the floor when his mother shouted: Shaurya bas! Shaant ho jaa. Yeh kya pagalpan laga rakha hai. Stop right now!

She snatched the vase from his hand and made him sit on the bed. She had tears in her eyes. She had seen her son's frustration and anger before. She knew that her son had always had temper issues but never had he thrown things like that before. What has made him so disturbed this time?

She cupped his face and spoke: Kya baat hai beta? Tu thik toh hai na...kya hua? Why are you reacting this way.

Shaurya laid his head on her lap and spoke: I don't know what I want..I don't understand myself anymore. I feel I have changed but I don't want to..I always tell myself that nothing affects me but it does now but I don't know what it is...I am in pain and I don't know the reason for it..I don't like what I am going through. I need my peace of mind Maa...I feel so lost, defeated!

Karuna Maa (crying): Bacche, its alright..Tu shaant ho jaa...Main hoon na...Don't feel so stressed out. You need some rest. Maybe you are worrying too much about your event at the hotel... Tu chinta na kar.. Just go to sleep.

Shaurya: Maa, please dont go anywhere. I don't want to stay alone.

Karuna Maa looked at him sadly: I am not going anywhere..I m here...Main yahin hoon..You need to sleep first..Chal so jaa...Come.

She made him stand and walked towards the bed. She pulled the comforter over him and sat by his bedside making sure that he slept. All this while he was holding her hand fearing that the next moment if he opened his eyes, she would leave him and go.

P.S. I hope this time it was long enough😆