Chapter 3... The Gale
All one could here in the car was the swishing of wipers .
Shaurya concentrated hard on his driving ...his mind could not still accept that he could kill somebody just by being behind wheels.
It had been a task driving down to the hospital ..a task , that a few hours ago, he thought he could have done in his sleep , had now become akin to fighting demons.
The journey back was even more ...difficult ...Mehak was with him ... in the next seat, seemingly looking outside , through the window
She had been robbed of her parents just because he was behind wheels .
His Hands gripped the steering hard ..His knuckles were turning white ...
Mehak continued looking out.
The wipers worked extra hard..
They were crossing the Delhi Gurgaon Border ...The trucks were lining up on both the sides ...he remained in his lane ... they would be home in another 10 minutes.
Suddenly a bike emerged from behind the truck changing lanes and cut across his car. Shaurya spotted him at the last second and swerved sharply ... Mehak's scream and screeching of the tyres as he applied the breaks, merged into one .
"Bloody Hell " , yelled Shaurya ..He rolled his window down wanting to give a piece of his mind to the moron, The bike had disappeared .The idiot did not even realize what he just did .
He banged his hand on the steering wheel in anger and frustration.
He turned to Mehak ...are you ok
She looked at him with rage filled eyes ...
"Why are you so negligent with human lives always ...you would have killed him ... she screamed ...
"Mehak it was not my fault ...the a**h*le just cut across ..
"Nothing is your fault ever , the whole world is at fault ...and you need to bad mouth them all ...but you are never to be blamed ..you never do any wrong..
"Mehak ... Shaurya's voice too rose , irritation writ in his tone...
Karuna grabbed his shoulder from behind ..
He looked at her and she nodded a silent no ...
Shaurya bit back his words and drove on .
They got down in silence . The house was eerily quiet.
Mehak was about to step in when Karuna asked her to stop. "Please wait at the doorstep Beta.
Mehak looked at Karuna questioningly . Buss 1 minute ...
She came back with a kalash full of Rice and a paraat ( shallow wok) filled with aalta (auspicious red colour to adorn the foot of married women )
"Must you Mma...Mehak choked ,...Mmmaaa??
Karuna noted the Ma "
...for her that was enough... Her eyes were pricking but her tone was level...
Yes I must ...said Karuna ...for while you need to re write and come to terms with your past ..I need to secure the future ,,,
You are the new bahu ..this is a fact , no matter how difficult it is for you to accept ... this house this family or what ever there is of it ...is yours...what you chose to do with it ..that decision is yours too ,,,but today , tomorrow , 10 years from now ,once we have walked through that pain , we would want to make a new beginning and then I will be secure that I laid my foundations right ...
Mehak looked at Shaurya instinctively..he did not meet her gaze and walked inside ...
She gently pushed the kalash ,,the rice scattered ,,hopefully bringing with it the promise of good luck ...her footsteps dipped in the altaa reached the big statue of Mata Rani in the living room .
Mehak bowed to her and then turned . Karuna stood there smiling wistfully ...
"May I go .. She asked her mother in law.
"Yes go and rest. It is already 5 in the morning .
Shaurya had changed and was sitting in the balcony ... A far away look in his eyes ...Dawn was breaking at the horizon...
The rain had turned into alight drizzle ...but a stiff breeze was blowing ... willing to take the clouds away.
She chose to stay inside the room ...sitting on the corner of the bed ... she was lost ...memories that had long past started dimming away returned in full force ..
There was mumma ..braiding her hair ...there was Papa dropping her to school ...
Mumma teaching her to make halwa ...
Papa helping her to do Maths ...
There they were with her in the park..she was on the swing ...Mumma I want to go higher ...push hard ...
No Mehak ..that is dangerous ...There can be an accident ...
They came to her in full force now,,,,the memories of that evening ...
There has been an accident ...Kanta Chachi had wailed ... Ravi ...They are in RML ( hospital)
She remembered the little girl ..the little scared girl sitting in a corner ...she was eagerly waiting for them to come ..they were going to get her favorite doll ..she had thrown a tantrum ...she wanted the doll ...she had promised she would be a good girl ..she will behave ..she would also learn all the tables ...they were going to get the doll...they were going to come back...
They came back,,,,they just never woke up...
Her tears were flowing in full force now ..
Her eyes fixed on the wall in front of her ...they suddenly focused ...it was a new photograph ..her and Shaurya ...dancing on the mehendi ceremony ..his hands holding her ...with all his right ..really close ..
She felt his hands ...his lips , on her waist , on her neck ..on her back ...his hands were every where ..they covered her whole body ...his hands filled with her parents blood...
She was smeared in blood ..her parents blood .. she snatched away her dupatta ...Her red salwar kurta ..smelled of blood...
She wailed in anguish as she rushed to the washroom ...she stood under the shower turning it full blast on ,still fully clad ...
Shaurya heard her wail and rushed inside the room ..he could her the shower on ..he checked the bathroom door ..it was ajar ...he tentatively entered...
The shower cubicle was also open ...
She was under the shower scrubbing herself hard ...fully clothed ...sobbing hard ...
"Mehak ??he called out ... turning off the shower and extended his hand...
Her eyes met his ...She jerked into a corner
Get out of here ...she yelled ...Mehak you need to come out ...he looked at her hand...
The mirror work on the kurta had led to angry scratches and welts on her palm and hands,,,
He could see the sleeve had a tear ...and a scratch with blood oozing out ran across her arm...
His eyes watered looking at her condition ..her turmoil was breaking his heart ...but he schooled his voice .
"Mehak... you need to come out ...he pulled her ...
"Don't touch me she violently jerked away his hands ...
He ignored her protests and scooped her in his arms and got her out even as she was thrashing her limbs like a woman possessed.
His shirt was already soaked ,as he had turned off the shower ..now as she struggled with her in dripping wet attire ... he got drenched too...
There was a trail of water dripping behind them as he got her out in the dressing area and set her aside ,, she quickly moved away from him as if no distance was sufficient.
He took out a bath robe from the shelve and threw at her ...
Change ...he said in a clipped tone ...
The bath robe fell on the floor, as she made no attempt to catch it ...
Exasperated he took a step towards her , completely forgetting the water puddle on the floor ..
He slipped ..
Shaurya ,, Mehak's reflexes were faster than her emotions ...she grabbed him to steady him...
He pulled her by the waist ...
Even if it was a for a moment , a stolen moment from time .he reveled in it ...her soft body against his ..her face had gone soft for a second ...and in her eyes for a split second ..he saw..concern ...he did not dare think it was love
The man in him could not but notice her curves silhouetted in the wet kurta molded against him ..
Something stirred ..but then too soon the moment was gone ...
She pushed him away ,
"Go she said , her voice seemed more composed now , "I will change " She had averted her eyes from him
He started walking out ... he needed to change too.
" Wait he halted ...turned back to look at her ...questions in his eyes ...
When are we going to the police station ??
His face turned impassive again . He looked at the watch it was 8 AM ..
"Right after Breakfast "
" Mehak " Called Karuna as she entered the room as Shaurya walked away .
"Coming Ma she replied ... She quickly wore the long bath robe and came out ..
Oh good you had your bath ,,,beta .. quickly change and come ...I need you to do your pehli Rasoi "
That is you need to cook in the kitchen for the first time ...make anything you want ,,,preferably something sweet ...
Mehak had given herself to the whole incongruity of the situation ..she was supposed to be the wife of the man who killed her parents ..she was the new bahu supposed to bring happiness in a home that was build on the corpses of her parent ...
She gave in an quietly made some malpuas...
The Khannas were having breakfast , when there was a commotion on the front door ...
Here move ...came a sharp pitched rustic tone ...get my luggage in ...
Everyone looked at who was creating the ruckus ...
Nani looked at new entrant aghast ...Dolly ??
Mehak had mild curiosity in her eyes ..Shaurya walked up to the new entrant ..and touched her feet ...
How are you Maasi ??
Mehak did not know Shaurya had an aunt ...
Bless you my son... Dolly Maasi showered her wishes Pprofusely ...
Karuna Gestured to mehak with her eyes ...mehak moved slowly and bent down to touch her feet ...
Aaahh ..this is the bahu ...Shaurya has definitely picked a beautiful one ...
"Bless you darling ...may you have a 100 sons...
Dolly Maasi's blessing were highly exaggerated ...
Maasi , Mehak and I would Have spend some time with you ..but we need to leave for something urgent ...
Shaurya apologized ..
Oh no worries son ... go and get your work done ...I am here ...I am not going anywhere ...
Nani , Mehak noticed looked aghast for some reason ,but she was too preoccupied to delve deeper ..
The SHO( station house officer) of Connaught Place police station looked at them incredulously .
He studied the face of both the individuals trying to ascertain if some kind of a crude rank was being played on him. He suspiciously looked behind them and in their hands ,,,he could not find any cameras
Mrs Khanna ...you want to file an FIR against your husband ??
Yes ..
He caused the death of my parents 12 years ago ...
when he was 14 years old ...??
Yes
He was driving a car ??
Yes ,,,
Here ???
yes the accident happened near Hanuman Temple ...
Mr Khanna you agree to this ...??
Yes the fact is I was driving the car that hit her parents ...
You did not do anything for 12 years ... ??
I did not know they were dead or that they were her parents ...
You were 14 then??
Yes
Then it is a case of juvenile misdemeanor... I need to check the sections that can be applied ...
Incorrect ..SHO sahib ...
This was Mr Verma ..Shaurya's lawyer ... who had since reached the police station
"Since Mr Khanna is an adult now, the juvenile court will have no jurisdiction over him..I suggest you apply the sections applicable to an adult now ...
Mehak sat through this conversation ...her head spun thinking of the legal complexities ...
The officer thought through..
"I am going to apply section 304(iii) , 279, 336,337, 338 and 427 of IPC in addition to section 184 and 183 of the Indian Motor vehicle act ..
"Do what ever you need to do ...officer ,,, My in laws should get justice...
"I am recording this as culpable homicide not amounting to murder "...the SHO replied ... he looked at Mehak
"Mrs Khanna if proven your husband may be behind bars for 6 to 7 years ...
Mehak sat frozen ...
"Here SHO Sahib Mr Verma opened his briefcase...
"These are the anticipatory bail papers for my client under all these sections...in addition to section 134 of IMV act ...
The SHO looked even more incredulous...he just was not sure what was going on ...this definitely was a publicity stunt ...
"These rich people and their dramas ... he rolled his eyes ...
But he decided to stick to the procedure..that was the safest route ,,,,
It took another hour to complete the formalities ..but they were done finally
The wind had again picked up as they stepped out of the police station ..
It was unusually cool for May ..The stiff gales has caught many people by surprise
The road side hawkers ran for cover as their ware for sale were being whipped by the gale..
I will drop you at VK and then I will go to the restaurant or would you rather visit PWG??
Shaurya asked ..
No I will go home ...
Shaurya felt an irrational joy as she referred to Khanna house as her home ...
He drove off ..dropping her at the front porch .
She went inside ...
The house ..rather her home still seemed alien to her
She looked for Karuna..but the butler Awaara told her she had gone for a charity function.
She decided to take refuge in her room ..she did not have the energy to face any other member of the family .
Her phone dinged ...
Did you fix your house of cards ??
It was KK...
No I demolished it ...
She replied
Hmmm did you find the shapeshifter ??
Yes ...
Really ...??
My life ..it has shifted and that is the biggest truth ...
So ..ab kya iraada hai ..(what do you intend to do now ??)
I need to find courage ...
Courage ??
To accept ...
Accept the faults of others ...??
No accept the consequences of the path I chose
Is it very difficult for you
No it is very painful for him...
And that is difficult for you to accept ...??
yes
Would you rather not have him walk this path ..
No ..because then I cannot walk with him ..
So if you walk this path ..you will be together ...
Yes ...
Does that mean Have you forgiven him ??
No ...
Then why would you want to walk with him ...??
Because I love him..
Would that not make you forgive him...??
That is precisely the reason I cannot forgive him...
Why ..??
Because to do that I need to forgive myself first ..
And you cannot do that ??
No
Why ??
Because I love him
Shaurya Khanna in the seclusion of his office threw away his phone and cried ...like a baby ...
Edited by tibs09 - 8 years ago
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