So I had been hit by a writer's block..multiple things contributed to it ..my distraction with what was actually happening on the show ..Real life problems ( yes believe it or not I do have a life outside the forum ) and my own confusion with what I wanted to do with these two ...I wrote something early in the week and thrashed it ... finally I have gone on a path that I believe a real relationship will go ..hope you all like it ... comments even negative one are always welcome

XXX


Part 11

Shaurya Khanna was known to the world to be many things , suave , shrewd , smart ,arrogant , sexy, ruthless , passionate , rude , loveable( probably to only two people in the world) , but he could never ever be accused of being a philosopher .
To his surprise he was fast turning into one . He had started evaluating the theory of karma much more .
He had started appreciating that he would have done some good deeds to finally meet someone like Mehak who came as breath of fresh air in a world full of leeches
He also realized that he was sufficiently cursed by the participants in the bronze bull round of India's super cook , for the torture he meted out to them , to go through this torture by the name of Mehak Sharma.
The Chandni Chowk girl was really tempting him to go where he had never been ...in the commitment zone .
He completely realized that she will probably never accept any other kind of relationship and he was not ready to accept the possibility of not having her in his life now.
Speaking of which he needed to find exactly where this woman who ruled his thoughts every waking and possibly even sleeping seconds was now.
After playing with him in his own meeting ,she had managed to evade him almost the whole day . Granted they both had a packed day , but he was sure , she somehow ensured that she stepped out of the kitchen the moment he stepped in .
He needed to get some rules of the game set He could not have Mrs Khanna take Mr Khanna so lightly . Wait should not that be Ms Sharma ..oh heck it was Ms Sharma soon going to be Mrs Khanna needed to learn a lesson for playing with Mr Khanna.
He strode out purposefully out of his office heading straight towards the kitchen. He saw Mehak trying to move away from her cooking station toward the chopping block where 3 of the junior staff were busy prepping vegetable She was probably trying to find safety in numbers .
He placed himself right at the block ..Ms Sharma I need to talk to you. He said .looking straight in her eyes
Mehak blinked . . Her initial surprise at being outmaneuvered was replaced by slight nervousness, yet her heart raced at his proximity .
She should have known better than to expect that she could keep playing with this man with her juvenile tactics.
Ssir my dish is at its final stage ..Maybe in another hour I will come and see you..
No it is urgent .. I am sure Kunal can take it from here ..he looked at the other Chef..
Can you not Kunal.??
Kunal knew saying no to Shaurya Khanna was never an option
Sure Sir ..of course
Let s go Ms Sharma ,he told Mehak.
Mehak knew , she was finally cornered and unless she wanted to create an embarrassing scene, the only way out was to follow him.
His office door closed with a loud bang behind them.
She stood near his desk , while he was still at the door.
Well?? he said questioningly , folding his hands .His body language defining the confidence , the swagger , the need to control all around him .This was Shaurya Khanna .
Well.. what ?? Mehak had to really find courage to face Shaurya in this formidable avatar.
Kya chal raha hai ..what are you upto ??
Me ...kya? .You know I have been in the kitchen whole day ...what will be I upto?
He could see the slight twinkling in her eyes belying her innocent response
Accha ..so what was going on the review meeting ..
Woh ...woh ...she lowered her eyes..
Mehak ..you know you are playing with Fire...He had moved really close to her
.She looked up suddenly ..defiance written in those big eyes ...
" Har cheez aapki Marzi se honi chahiye.." ( everything should happen as per your wish) right ?
If you feel like you will define us as "not friends " but I do not have any right over ..over ..
You do not have any right over what ?
Her anger finally gave her the courage ..
Over you , over us , over our relationship
She looked away, battling hard the tears that had started escaping , inspite of her efforts to rein them in.
He gently put his forefinger and thumb at her chin and made her look at him...
What rights do you want over me laddoo?
All her new found courage beat a hasty retreat , at his soft tone . His eyes held promises which she was afraid to read in fear of losing herself...
I..I..need to go.
Her attempt to move was blocked by his pulling her by the wrist..
Mehak ..nahi..., the nod of his head signaling no, was enough for her to stop.
He enveloped her in , locking his hands behind her waist..
Mehak ..we cannot be running away from each other ..
Kuch to hai tere mere darmiyaan ...We have something between us ..right ?.
Mehak nodded a yes..her power of speech had completely left her ...
Don' t take the shuttle today ...I will be waiting for you ...he told her brushing away the fat tear sitting on her cheek...
Mehak walked out in a daze after he released her and the rest of the day too passed in a haze.
She loitered in the kitchen on some pretext or the other , till she was sure that the shuttle had left and tentatively made her way to the porch .
He was there in the car waiting for her.
He powered the car as soon as he saw her . She quietly opened the door and sat in the seat next to him , fastening her seat belt
Kahan chale ( where should we go?) do you want to go back to apartment or will you want to go out for sometime ?
Jahan aap le chalo ( will go where you take me ) she said ..her meaning clear in his eyes ..
He smiled and put the car into gear ,
A comfortable silence spread in the car , with Kishore Kumar playing in the background.
Mere Dil me aaj kya hai ..tu kahe to main bata doon...
Teri zulf phir sawaaroon , teri maang phir saja doon
he concentrated on driving she on looking outside the window .
Mujhe devta banakar teri chahto ne puja
Mera pyaar keh raha hai ki main tujhe khuda bana doon
suddenly she realise they were crossing Gurgaon and were on NH 8 ( National highway)
Where are we going??
Jaipur
Hain ?? Jaipur?? par maine chachi ko kuch bhi nahi bataya.( I have not told Chachi anything )
Lo abhi to kaha tha ..ki I am free to take you anywhere .. he smiled ..
Yyess Bbbutt
Relax Mehak ...we will just go to this Dhaba on the Highway ...I like it's food ,,and you should also try its tea.. I think you will like it
You ?? Like the Dhaba food
Why cannot I like the Dhaba food ..
No it is just that you have always made your preferences clear ...I always feel you want very exclusive classy things ..and Dhaba food just does not fit there. Afterall You said in ISC..
I said a lot of crap in ISC..Mehak,   he cut in impatiently ..
Please do not throw that in my face always ..I know I was wrong and I am sorry ..
Shaurya.. no ..I was not trying to make you feel bad ...it is just that just that...
Kya Mehak..
Just that I feel that you come from a very different world than mine ...
The car had come to a stop .
The twinkling fairlylights on the tree near the Dhaba looked welcoming ..
So you think I am an alien ? Shaurya asked   grinning ..
Haan ?? it took Mehak a second to realize how he had twisted what she said ..
Yes ..she stuck out her tongue at him ...The only thing I am trying to figure out is whether you are Jadoo or PK
Chalo ...Jadoo is hungry . He pulled her out of the car
Once they had ordered the food , he turned to her and said ..sometimes our preferences are nothing but projections Mehak
His eyes looked intense ..
Projections? Asked Mehak ..
Yeah what we are trying very hard for the world to believe about ourselves , what we are trying to believe about ourselves .. sometimes our overt dislike is just our coping mechanism ..
Yes I understand ...I too have lived with coping Mechanisms
Only difference you made dislikes your coping mechanism ..I made love mine.. My love for cooking is nothing but my love for my mother , my love for my family is just me trying to protect with what I have been left with..
The food arrived then..and they got distracted talking about regional cuisines from India and how simple food could be really exotic in its own way . ..Mehak started sharing a lot of strange combination that had been turned into wonderful dishes by her mother
Their conversation never stopped flowing . In addition to food It veered through school and college lives , films and strange people they had met
Shaurya regaled her with his travel stories around the world and she about the goings on in her mohalla in Chandni chowk.
They had reached the condo . Shaurya stepped out of the elevator on Mehak's floor..
She looked at him with questioning eyes ..
I am sure you can treat me with one cup of coffee ..
She nodded.
She went straight to the kitchen to get his coffee as they entered her apartment...
He closed the door and followed her
She was just about to add the powdered beans in the percolator , when he just took the sachet away from her and pulled her close..

Kya hua ..coffee nahi chahiye ...? Mehak asked softly
Chaiyye ..but before that I need an answer ..

She just questioned him through her eyes , at the same time encouraging him to go on..

You were saying at the Dhaba ..that for you love is a coping mechanism..

Hmmm

Do you think this mechanism of yours an expand to include me ..Ms Sharma

No..
The finality in her answer took him by surprise
He just could feel his world crashing down ..
His face turned pale..
She gently took his face in both her hands ...

"No because my love for you will never be a coping mechanism of life ..it will be my life"

Hope that had just deserted him , returned with full force

He gripped her hands framing his face ...

Mehak can I dare to think that you love me ..

Yes Shaurya Khanna I love you.. said Mehak with a confidence that only love can bring before closing the gap between them and sealing it with a kiss.
tibs092017-01-06 04:26:53