|| Kitne Door Kitne Paas|| MehRya FF EPILOGUE Pg144 8/Nov/17 - Page 54

Hi All,

Some more MehRya moments but story still halted in same spot & no twists 😉 for the time being. Shruthi's screen space is also reduced to minimum hope you like it😃

BR, Kash

CHAPTER 16

"She looked breath taking beautiful", Vicky said dreamily. "She is still MY WIFE", Shaurya roared. "What?? You haven't even met her", Vicky acted dumb, "Oh!! You thought I was talking about Mehek Bhabhi. I was referring to her cousin, Nehal". Shaurya turned red realising his mistake. "I am going out to meet, Shruthi. If anyone asks just tell", he said vaguely. "I won't tell HER, Bhai. Atleast spare her the pain and humiliation by reminding the other women in your life", Vicky said seriously. "Vicky, I didn't mean any such thing. I will never hurt Mehek", Shaurya quickly became emotionally defensive. "Maybe, Bhai. Yet you always ended up giving her pain. So please be careful with your words and deeds", Vicky left.

"Shaurya, when is she leaving? I need an answer", Shruthi threw a fit. Shaurya gaped at her. He wondered whether she is the same matured and sophisticated women who handled him during his darkest hours. Sensing his astonishment, she simmered. She held her head, "I am sorry, Shaurya. I have these mood swings. Besides I am so much stressed due to angst caused by cancellation of engagement. I hope you understand". He nodded sympathetically. "A moment I was being engaged to you and next moment Mehek came and took everything", she wiped her tears. Shaurya gave her tissue and patted her hand, "Relax Shruthi. I promised I will take care of our child , it's my responsibility. Mehek's appearance was a surprise for all and I need time to figure it out. Don't forget she is my responsibility too", he consoled her."For you , just the child matters", she complained."I never hid anything from you. You will have my name, protection and loyalty. But you cannot force my heart to love you. I am sorry for that", he told her honestly. "Take care, Shurthi. Don't spoil your health", he advised as she dropped her back at her clinic. "You too Shaurya. You look really tired. I feel bad that above all I have been pestering you. Thanks for understanding my condition", she advised him. Guilt pricked him, he couldn't sleep as he spend entire night guarding Mehek. He felt sorry for Shruthi, one mistake had taken toll on her life. He had made peace with his ill fate but Mehek's appearance has thrown it to chaos. He wondered whether getting married to Shruti is the right thing to do. He shook his head and scolded him. 'Mehek has no intention to stay back. She needs money and will leave. You need to concentrate of Shruthi and your child', his mind reminded him. He drove aimlessly to kill time and reached home by late afternoon. Servants informed that Vicky and his Ma went out for some function and Mehek was resting in her room. While he reached his room, he couldn't help but check on her.

Mehek was getting restless in her sleep. "Leave me...Somebody help me...", she kept on mumbling. Shaurya came near her and kept his hand on her forehead. "Nothing will happened to you, Jaan. I am here for you. You are safe. Sleep peacefully", he consoled her. She became calm and asked in her sleep, "Shaurya, be with me". "I will be here", he patted her cheek. She held his hands to her chest and slept peacefully. He didn't want to free himself yet he was feeling too tired. He stretched himself near her and cradled her head on his chest. She cuddled into his warmth and spread her arm around him as if afraid to let him go. He found that she looked lovely in Maya's cloths. He comforted himself against her soft curves. He slowly dozed off beside her.

She was scared but his presence composed her. She didn't know whether it was dream or reality. If it was a dream she didn't want to wake up. Later when she slowly opened her eyes, she whispered his name, "Shaurya". Her fingers searched for him amidst the warmth she felt around but in vain. Her beautiful dream has come to an end and she has to wake up to harsh reality. He was not there. He had chosen to be with another woman. It burdened her that it was she who pushed him away. She had taught herself not to weep at her loss but be glad for him. Yet tears made their way and she wiped it quickly.

Shaurya watched through the narrow space left between the doors. When he had realised she was waking up, he managed to leave. He felt energetic, as if he had slept peacefully after many months. 'May be we are not meant to be together forever, Mehek. For once fate has been merciful and thrown few days for us. I promise , I will make them as memorable as possible ', he thought.

"Ma'am, tea is served at the lawn area near pool", Awara informed when Mehek came down. She met Shaurya near the pool. "How are you now?", he asked politely. "Better", she answered. He poured her tea and gave some cookies which she ate hungrily. "You have put on weight. I wonder how you fit into your old clothes", he humoured her. "I have to squeeze into it", she smiled and flinched at the pain caused by her wound. "I can take you out for shopping. No need to torture yourself to fit into them", he said honestly. "It's ok. My cousin, Nehal brought my stuffs today. I was too tired to change into them", she explained. Shaurya was in his black bathrobe and slippers. "Would you like to join me for a swim ?", he asked. She shook her head and turned to leave. "Where are you going? Stay here and relax in fresh air. If you lock yourself in a room, you will feel more ill", he advised her. He untied his robe revealing his upper body and Mehek averted her gaze. "You are blushing as if you are seeing my skin for the first time", he smirked before plunging into the pool. Mehek sat on the chair beside watching him swimming across the pool. After a couple of laps he took a break and asked her, "What did you do all this time, Mehek?". She was expecting his questions . "I left to stay with Nehal. I did some part time jobs and met Ajay accidently. He helped to get junior post of journalist in the newspaper where he works", she told him. "Ajay? The same Ajay?", Shaurya was curious and bit anxious. "Yea. He is now in one of the top positions and could influence his office. He is married and expecting a child", she said. He felt relaxed and swam again. Each time he took a break , he talked to her and she too started participating in it. It felt as if they were two friends who were catching up after a long time. They laughed, made fun of each other and felt relaxed. "There is a place nearby house in London where they serve awesome pizzas. I will take you there one day", he told. Mehek's face fell. He too understood folly of his words. There won't be a tomorrow like that for them. She realised her reaction was upsetting him so she pitched in, "I will be happy to eat there. And if it doesn't turn out as good as you say I will bang your head on the pizza", she laughed. "Jeez, such violent thoughts you have", he joked.

"Mehek, can you pull me up", he extended his hand. She nodded and pulled him up. He climbed up with her help but as he stepped on the tile, he slipped and fell into the pool taking her with him. Mehek panicked but he held her waist and pushed her up. Her head was above his and her boson was closer to his face. Her chest heaved as she gasped for breath. Owing to reflex she wrapped her legs around him and held his shoulder. Her wet & transparent clothes clinged to her body. "Shaurya, yeh kya mazaak hain?", she sounded angry. "I am sorry, Mehek. But it was an honest mistake. I slipped and lost my balance", he apologized. "How convenient?", she splashed water on him. "Once a liar, always a liar. Will you ever trust me again, Mehek?", he asked sadly. She looked into his eyes, they were filled with pain and distress. "Help me out of the pool", she looked away. Once they were out of water, he covered her with dry towels. "I better go", she tried to leave. "Mehek!", his voice stopped her. "I know I lost your trust. But please believe me when I say I am always there for you. Call it my instinct or madness but I feel you are in trouble. Though I am you culprit and you want to cut me away from me, I still want you to know that I will always support and protect you. You just have to whisper it and I will be beside you", he said firmly. "You need to concentrate on your new life, Shaurya. Once I get my money, I will be out of here. I need nothing else from you", she said before dashing off to her room.

As she came in her room, she found Karuna waiting for her and got startled. "God! Don't you guys spare privacy to others", Mehek gasped. " I wanted to tell you that you had enough rest and it's time to get to work which is coming closer to Shaurya. But you are eager than I anticipated. You are already doing a good job", Karuna showed her phone which displayed snaps of Mehek & Shaurya inside pool. "Are you crazy? How could you do it?", Mehek tried to grab the phone. Karuna waved her forefinger at her, "Don't be stupid, Mehek. Keep up the good job", she smiled wickedly. "Aren't you forgetting about the child. Don't you have any concern for your grand child?", she asked bitterly. "I am. But I am more worried for my son. Shruthi is not a good person. She is wicked and cunning. Her carefully crafted mask had fooled my son and I am unable to put sense into him. I want some time to uncover her and I need you to buy me that time", Karuna explained. "Nobody is good enough for your son. Be it Maya, Mehek or Shruthi", Mehek smirked at her. "I won't hide that I never liked you. Yet I never harmed Maya. You were not wicked or cunning. When you regained your memory, you left on your own. I knew about your past and medical condition so I preferred you were out of Shaurya's life. When we met again, I accept I went overboard and crossed the line. It was insensitive of me to hurt you with your infertility. I was blinded by my love for my son. You may understand it one day when you have your own...", Karuna paused realising her mistake. "Ofcourse, How could I ever understand it? I can never have a child of my own", she turned painfully. Karuna moved forward and kept her hand on Mehek but she pushed it away. "Don't worry, Mrs Khanna. I will do as you please but don't expect me to harm Shruthi or their relationship. I am not like you", she said firmly and moved to bathroom. 'I know Mehek, you are not like me or Shruthi. And I am counting on it', Karuna told herself.