||Tere Ishq ki Mujhko Aadat HaiS3||MehRya(dark)FF FinalPg109 16/Dec/18 - Page 20

Chapter 5

"She is alive...Her child is alive", she said again and again. As the moment of bewilderment passed away, Shaurya got enraged and pushed her away. "You are gravely disappointed, aren't you?", he spewed at her. Mehek shook her head vehemently and spoke feebly, "You don't understand. The fact that atleast her baby survived, lifts a huge weight off my conscious". "So you agree that you are guilty of my sister's murder", Shaurya was quick to seize the opportunity. Mehek didn't respond but took support from nearby chair to stand still. "I was high. Aarush and Dad were forcing me to consider rehab. Aarush persuaded me further and I finally complied. That day he gifted me a small supply of coke as reward. An indulgence before I gave it up. I was alone at my home and lost in its intoxication when she abruptly came before me. I still don't understand how she managed to sneak in. She asked for Aarush and when I told her he was elsewhere she refused to believe and started to fight with me. She believed I was hiding Aarush and preventing his return to her. I warned her to stay away from me but she went on & on. I vaguely remember shoving her away", she paused looking at Shaurya who was on edge, "Hours later when I came back to my senses, Swati informed me that she found Smriti at bottom of the staircase. By then she was already taken to hospital". Shaurya couldn't control his agony but turned away not to show his weakness before Mehek. "Your recklessness costed a life, my sister's life", he bend forward to peck sleeping Aarti, "Poor child. You didn't even allow her to remain within safety of her mother's womb for full term. She was born premature and will have to bear it's consequence throughout her life". "I am sorry, Shaurya. I had no intention to harm Smriti. It happened when I was under influence of drugs. Please forgive me", she wailed. He shook his head in denial, "I could have, if you have admitted your mistake earlier. But you and Aarush played innocent and accused my sister to be a wh**e. That was not by mistake but deliberate. You both deserved to be punished". "Shaurya, Aarush is innocent. It was just me", she tried to justify. Somehow her desperation to prove Aarush as innocent made Shaurya extremely angry. He hated the influence Aarush had on Mehek and Smriti. They either blamed themselves or others but not him. Though he always hated Aarush, today he couldn't decipher the feeling Mehek evoked in him. Was it anger, aversion or envy? He chided for being influenced by Mehek. Her life and affairs shouldn't be affecting him. He needs to avenge his sister murderers. Aarush and Mehek are equally guilty. Mehek is Aarush's weakness and snatching her will be hurting Aarush. "You are his punishment", he roared pinning her to nearby wall.

He smashed into her lips and kissed her forcefully. Mehek tried to push him but she was trapped by his strong frame. She sobbed in agony while he grabbed her neck to assault her lips. To her utter horror, she realised that he held his phone in his free hand. His intention was not to violate her but to capture her helplessness and struggle. He pushed her away and showed her the video clip, "A small instalment for your lover". "Shaurya, please. You are degrading yourself. This is not you", she spoke her mind. " You can claim full credit to this corrupted version of Me", he smirked at her. They gazed at eachother intently. He moved away when his phone rang from an unknown number. He answered the call and heard from other side, "They found her car". "Hmmm", he expected yet it was bit soon, "Don't try to communicate with me further. We are done". "I understand", the call was disconnected. The alarm bell had gone off early. He had to act wisely else he will be caught. He locked the house quickly and drove away. He did usual rounds in plantation and spend some time in his office, trying to follow his daily routine. By the time he made it back home, he expected Aarti to be awake and throwing tantrums. But he was amazed to find her peacefully resting in Mehek's arms. "I fed her and changed her", Mehek informed cheerfully. "Stay away from her", he pulled Aarti away from Mehek. The child was visibly upset to be away from Mehek and started to wail. "Give her to me. She is disturbed", Mehek raised her voice. "Drop this pretext, Mehek. You will never do any good for her", he accused her. "She was left alone with me for almost a day, Shaurya. When you blissfully ignored her safety, I could have easily harmed her if I intend to", she gave back to him. Shaurya was taken back by her words. She successfully pricked his nerve. He had locked the house and ensured zilch mode of communication available for Mehek. Yet in his desperate attempt to act casual, he forgot about Aarti's security. He felt guilty and sad. He held Aarti closer to him and rocked her gently until she relaxed against him. "Go back to the room", he commanded Mehek. She wanted to stay back but he yelled, "NOW".

His temperature was high and body ached. It was tough to manage Aarti when he fell ill. Mehek served him breakfast. She didn't know cooking so they had to manage with bread, butter & jam which she served. He wished Kanta chachi will be back soon and Mehek shall be locked back in his cottage. His self-absorption was broken when her soft palm touched his forehead. "Shaurya, you have fever. Take rest and let me take care of Aarti", she suggested but he didn't agree. "She may get infection from you as she is fragile. After all she is premature baby", she reasoned. "And whose fault caused her premature delivery?", he accused and Mehek had no reply. He sprang to his feet but felt dizzy. Mehek dashed to his side , grabbed Aarti from him and as well supported him. She led him to nearby bedroom and made him lie down. "Do you have any fever medicines?", she asked. He nodded and directed her to it. The remaining hours of the day was tedious for Mehek. She took care of Shaurya and Aarti. With little knowledge she possessed, she handled a sick man and a demanding child. She surprised him and didn't fail to impress him though he chose not to admit it aloud. By evening, Shaurya was feeling much better and he allowed Mehek to take complete care of Aarti. He was amazed how Aarti got cozy with Mehek in just few hours. Mehek had a strange charm which could allure all. He reminded him not to fall for her tricks and be alert. Yet he couldn't help soft feeling that grew within him for her. "Shaurya, Aarti is having slight fever. I think we should take her to pediatrician", Mehek suggested. "There is no WE,Ms Maan. I may take her to hospital while you shall be locked here", he sounded casual yet made his point. Mehek shrugged her shoulder, "Just get her checked by a doctor". Before he could talk, his phone rang . It displayed a name which made him extremely wary. "Hello Shaurya", ACP Reshmi addressed him. He moved away from Mehek and tried to reply pleasantly. "Would you mind coming to my office in an hour? I will explain once you are here", ACP told him. He agreed to meet her. A summon from ACP was expected and unavoidable. He has to act cautiously, with no time to waste. He pushed Mehek into the nursery, "Stay here with Aarti till I am back". "But Shaurya, she needs medical care", Mehek argued. "I know", he raised his voice but controlled his temper quickly. "I will be back in an hour and will take her to hospital. Understood?", he commanded her and left for ACP's office after locking Mehek & Aarti in nursery.

He sat before ACP Reshmi and gracefully refused when she offered him tea. He knew he will be prime suspect of Mehek's kidnapping and tried his best to behave normal. "Mehek Maan is missing", ACP Reshmi informed him and tried to read his face. "And you think I am behind her disappearance", he tried to act defensive. "Nothing of that sort, Shaurya. Just routine inquiry", she said casually. She asked him few random questions about his recent whereabouts and he tried to lie through it calmly. An efficient police officer like Reshmi was clever enough to perceive something amiss but she was unable pin point. Deep down she had a soft corner for him. He was a noble man, a good brother whom system failed to serve justice. Yet it didn't excuse him to take law into his hands. Though she never inclined towards rich families like Maan, she could never bestow special privilege on Shaurya if he gets invovled in any crime. Still she prayed he is innocent. Shaurya had suffered enough and she didn't want to alleviate his agony. She allowed him to leave after giving a slight warning not to leave city without informing police. He agreed and took his leave. Once he was inside his car, he sighed and checked his watch. It took longer than he had expected. He drove away but it was peak traffic, causing further delay for him to reach home

As soon as he entered, he got welcomed by shrill cry of Aarti. He panicked and rushed to nursery. When he unlocked the door and entered, he saw Mehek holding Aarti inside bath tub. Aarti was wailing loud, expressing her discomfort and fear. "Bloody Hell!!", he swore and rescued Aarti. He pulled out a dry cloth he could get hold off and wiped her body. "You filthy bitch. Are you trying to harm my child?", he furiously pulled Mehek's by her pony tail. "Shaurya, I was just trying to help", she whimpered in pain. He pushed her away and held Aarti closer to him. The child was shivering and crying out. He placed her on crib and charged to Mehek. He slapped her hard and she fell on floor by its force, blood oozed out of her lips. "You are inhuman. Only a twisted mind like yours could plan to torment a hapless child", he accused her. Mehek shook vehemently and tried to explain but he didn't listen to her. He pulled her from floor and dragged her with him. "Shaurya, please listen to me. Aarti had high fever. I didn't know what else to do but bathe her in lukewarm water", she tried to explain but he didn't pay attention. "You deserve worst punishment. Wait here until I am back", he opened door of cellar and pushed her into it. "Shaurya, no. Don't lock me here", she ran to him yet he dismissed her pleas and locked it.

Shaurya was pacing restlessly across the hospital corridor. He ran to doctor when he came out of pediatric emergency room. "How could you be so careless, Shaurya? I told you to be mindful about Aarti", he scolded Shaurya. "I am sorry, Doctor. I had fever and since Chachi is away, I have to take care of Aarti which may have led to her illness. Adding to it, a stupid woman bathed her in lukewarm water", Shaurya told all in single breath. "I won't condemn her to be stupid. Infact it was right thing to do. If high fever had persisted it would have led to seizures" his words surprised Shaurya. Doctor patted his shoulder, "Anyways, Aarti is fine now still I recommend to keep her here for observation. Bystanders won't be allowed in neonatal emergency ward. So you can leave now and come tomorrow ".

He managed to reach home as fast he could. He recalled how rudely he had locked Mehek in the old vine cellar. The cellar was rarely used and it was kind of a mini dungeon which was filled with dust and cobwebs with minimal ventilation. He dashed to cellar, unlocked the door and called out her name, "Mehek". When he received no response, he lit torch in his mobile and saw her lifeless body on cold floor.