Note : So the CVs gave us such a beautiful episode on Friday ..consider this part as an ode to them.
also this is probably the longest update I have written so far ..consider it my Christmas gift to you guys ..and yes I have been asked to put the apartment to good use ..hope I have done that too...
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Part 9
Mehak was at the spa next day when her phone rang . It was Rajeev .
Hello Mehak.. I have both good news and bad bews ..which one do you want to hear first .
Mehak was suddenly scared ..
Umm the Bad news ??.., she said bracing herself for whatever that might be.
The Anniversary dinner we had today in the restaurant got cancelled ..
Oh why ... Mehak started breathing again . This was not so bad.
Oh you know ..Mrs Bhasin caught Mr Bhasin cheating .. Rajeev sounded almost embarrassed sharing a piece of society gossip with her.
Oh. Mehak was always surprised at how transient these modern day relationships were .
She still could remember the seemingly happy couple the other day in the restaurant, deciding the menu
One moment a couple planning their anniversary bash together and the next moment everything was over , because one partner could not keep the commitment a relationship demanded ..
Being almost fiercely loyal to her family and a few friends that she had, she could not understand how can two people in love with each other start cheating . it almost seemed unforgivable to her.
Oh well as Sonal said, we cannot be solving the problems of the whole world , Mehak composed herself
Now do you want to hear the good news..
Hmm yes ofcourse , she had forgotten all about the good news .
Well you can have the evening too off today..you have not had a single day off for the past two weeks ..Get some rest .. Rajiv said. will you go to Chandni Chowk today ...
No Sir ,..I will stay at the apartment ..my family is out for a wedding in Merutt ( a city near Delhi)
Oh ok ...then relax tonight.
Since she had more time at hand she decided go for waxing and full body message that made her feel almost like a queen. Of course there were some perks for earning on your own and she had begin to appreciate that independence.
It was almost 6 in the evening by the time she returned back to her apartment . it had come a long way in the last two weeks from being almost alien to her , it had almost started seeming like home.
She had given her touches to the already furnished apartment . the blue elephant near the TV and the multicolored umbrella above the dining table
The little birdies on the string in her bedroom and the cushions on the settee.
They all reminded her of her family , the colorful vibrant flawed , arguing but always together group of eight that were always with her in her heart,
She now wanted to fill the lobby wall with her family photos and decided to spend the evening selecting the photos she wanted to get framed, but dinner came first .
She decided to do a light tofu salad with some mushroom soup. Staying in the company of a fitness freak like Shaurya Khanna was rubbing on her . She did not realize when her face broke into a smile .
Maybe I should send some upstairs , she thought .as she started chopping the mushrooms . Suddenly her phone rang..
Ahh think of the devil ...
Hello Shaurya ...sir , she added as an afterthought
Where are you ? came the abrupt reply ..
In the apartment ..
Not in the restaurant ??...
No Rajiv Sir asked me to take the evening off.
The answer was a grunt form the other side the phone got disconnected.
She just shrugged and got back to her cooking . She had become used to the eccentric ways of this man. She did not expect him to say Hello and bye like normal people.
She was almost done putting the salad together , when the doorbell rang .
Se slipped the slad bowl in the refrigerator before answering it .
Shaurya Khanna stood there with the most sour expression on his face.
Kkya hua , she instantly got nervous .
I am hungry , he said as he brushed past her and sprawled on the sofa .
It was almost as if it was his apartment .
Well technically he is the owner . Mehak reminded herself
He was rubbing his temples ...
Do you have a headache too? She asked..
Hmmm..she took that to be a yes ...
She thanked her lucky stars that she had made extra...as she quickly served him...
He tucked into the food without much ado..and asked for more soup.
There was a comfortable silence as he ate , she looking at her laptop for the photos ...
Once he had eaten he cleared the dishes and again came back to sprawl on the sofa and rubbed his temples..
She went inside her bedroom to be back with a headache balm ...
Do you mind...she asked hesitatingly?
He half opened his eyes to see the bottle of balm and closed back his eyes..
She took his grunt to be a yes...
She sat down tentatively besides him .
Her soft finger on his temples , were an instant relief . The balm seemed redundant now.
Kya hua ? Her sweet voice filled hid ears ..was it a bad day
Hmmm.
Her fingers stilled for a moment ..
Was it because of the cancelled dinner?
Hmmm ?? oh no that is business as usual , events gets cancelled ..
Oh ..phir?
Hmmm ..you have heard about the organic food chain that I am trying to get into?
Mehak nodded
...just ran into a major roadblock there ..I almost lost my temper today in the meeting . There were investors and of course the delegation from London...
They are just adding very unfair conditions , almost going back on the MOU
MOU? Mehak asked ..
Oh Memorandum of Understanding ..it was what we thought will be the basis of the deals terms and conditions..
Oh...I am sorry ..you had such a bad day ...
Hmmm... There was silence in the room as she continued to rub his temples and forehead .. ..
He shifted and moved his head to her lap . This was way more comfortable .
Main kuch bolun( do you mind if I say something ?) asked Mehak
Hmmm..
I do not understand anything about business but I know two things
One It is never as bad as it seems at first . There is always an alternative or solution. We just need time to get our minds thinking in the right direction
Two if people are putting unfair conditions , it might be because they have a deep rooted fear or insecurity . if you can weed out that fear or concern , things usually fall in place.
He opened his eyes and looked up, admiration filling his eyes
Mehak Sharma so in addition to being a great Chef , you are also a psychologist and philosopher rolled into one ..
She . blushed ..
Don't pull my leg, she said , moving his head aside in an attempt to get up
He pulled her back ..
No I am sincere ..it was such good advice...
Oh ..if you are so much into taking my advice ..I have one more of you..
Ab kya ? meri consultant... he asked smiling
Aap na itna gussa mat kiya karo ( don't lose temper so often ) ..you know anger is like the acid that erodes the container it is kept ...us being those containers ..
Aap realize nahi karte ..having so much anger in your system , hurts you the most and gives you a weakness that other can take advantage of.
His expression turned serious ..
You have not lived my life Mehak..
"I know ..and I understand that you would have reasons to be angry ..But Shaurya ..life deals unfair blows to each one of us
We cannot control that ..what we can control is our own reaction and outlook..
Look I do not expect you to change overnight ..but just try another outlook for sometime ..
Please for my sake" Mehak pleaded..
He did not reply..
She sighed ..the conversation had reached a dead end..
She tried getting up . he pulled her back again .. gripping her wrist firmly ..
He sat upright.
Why should I try anything for your sake ? Mehak ? he asked ..that husky tone returning ..
Umm...she felt trapped by her own words ..
Ummm... I mean ..
Are we that important to each other ...??
Bolo ??
YYess ofcoursse..Mehak stuttered as a triumphant smile spread across Shaurya's face
After all we are friends ...rright ...
The smile vanished ..never ever had Shaurya Khanna been friend zoned..
That concept was alien to him ..hell women were falling all over him and they never wanted to "befriend" him ...they had ...other ..things in mind..
Karma sure was a bitch ...he was paying for all his scheming ways ..first to be tortured by the sight of this girl ..this one sexy girl ..whose cluelessness about her appeal made her ..even more...sexy... and then to be friend zoned by that one girl whom he had wanted probably more than anything else
He could not let his destiny play cruel games with him ..surely not now. He was the master of his own destiny .He had ruled it ..and he was now letting the tables be turned now.
He had to put things right ...now...

So we are friends ?? r he asked silkily

Yes ..are we not .. I mean look at us..
Yeah Mehak ...look at us ...he pulled her closer ...Do you think we are friends ...His voice had a strange urgency ...
Shaurya ..leave me ... choddo
Nahi Choddunga ..
She was not sure how it was possible but Shaurya pulled her even more closer. His both hands were clasped behinds her waist now and she had to rest her arms on his chest just to keep some breathing space between them.
Her heart thundered in her chest . She was sure even he could hear it .
She could feel his heart beat too racing below her palms.
Do you know what I want to do ..when I see you ?... he asked
She had her usual wide eyed clueless expression ..
I want to kiss you senseless..he said ..
Do you think friends do this ? He asked again as he captured her lips with his.
He did not have it in him today , to be gentle . His need drove him wild
.he needed this ..he needed her after the bad day ..
He needed to put atleast one thing right today ..his need to teach these two culprits ..who had dared to drive him insane a lesson ..he needed to brand them as his own
He felt her arms snaking behind his neck , her fingers were now buried in his hair
His laddoo was kissing him back .
Plastered as she was against him , he could feel the rise and fall of her breath ,her luscious softness against his hard chest.. .
His hand crept up of their own will .Their need driving them to explore her curves
His thumb was drawing circles around them when they both came up for breath.
Mehak...??his voice sounded tortured ..
I think you know that I need to go now ..else we both know where we are going to end tonight.
Mehak was feeling bereft...she nodded as that was the only option
He turned back just as he reached the door
I hope you understand , now , that we are not friends...
He headed straight for a cold shower as soon as he entered his pent house.