Mana ke hum yaar nahi...(ZKM Season 2 FF) - Epilogue updated - Page 6

Chapter 18.

The next day, Shaurya sat waiting for Aditi in the front porch of his restaurent. He had the picnic basket ready. She arrived in her car and got out, parking next to his. She was wearing cargo trousers and crop top with sturdy boots. She carried a small rucksack on her back. She is prepared for the jungle...he thought.

'Ready to go?', he asked.

'Yes..'. She looked excited.

They went to the fence and climbed over. There was no path to walk. The land was full of bushes and brambles. They walked carefully, taking in the trees around. It was quiet in the wood with a few birds chirping.

'The breeze is blowing the wrong way today...', she complained. 'I can't smell it anymore...'

He laughed. 'How do you know so many scents Ms Shekhawat?'

She was quiet for a moment. 'The trees - I know them from my father's garden. The spices and food - I know from my hiding places at the orphanage.'

'I used to hide in the kitchen or store room most of the times...I found out the names when I came home with Dad...', she said in the way of explanation.

The smile left his face. He looked at her to see if she was sad...but she had already moved on and was walking ahead of him.

They continued walking until they came around a small opening in the trees. There, at the other side of the opening, there was a small cluster of Neelgiri trees. Aditi stood watching the tree, its delicate long leaves swaying in the breeze. They could detect a refreshing minty scent, mixed with notes of honey. She picked a leaf and scrunched it so the juices came out. She inhaled the scent deeply and closed her eyes. Her face looked calm, serene. Turning around, she took Shaurya's hand and rubbed the juice at the back of it. He felt a sensation at her touch. It was different...like a caress but not quite. He looked at his hand and inhaled. The fragrance seemed soothing, enticing.

He watched her enchanted, noticing her every movement. She was so young...so vigorous and full of life. Her body was in full bloom of womanhood but she was oblivious to it. Her smile was like flowing water and eyes danced in the breeze. Her gray eyes didn't shut him out anymore..they were open for him to take a peek. She looked so innocent, so trusting his heart skipped a beat.

They set up their picnic under a tree and ate. They talked and laughed and then talked some more. They played the game of naughts and crosses. Shaurya lost nearly every single time. He called her cheater. She called him sore loser.

As he laid on the picnic blanket eyes closed, she moved around exploring, finding new trees, flowers and fragrances.

Finally when she came back, she found him sleeping peacefully under the tree. She sat there waiting for him to wake up. She watched him as he slept. He is so beautiful...she thought...just like the wild flowers she had collected. She wondered what his scent was like...what a weird thought...she brushed it away. She leaned against the tree trunk and closed her eyes...

It was late afternoon when they left the spot. Shaurya had not felt so rested in ages.

He was strangely affected. He realised he was calmer, happier. The darkness that clouded his heart had disappeared, it now filled with a sublime serenity. He looked at Aditi in wonder, at her resilience, her innocence, her zest for life. She had a tormented past just like him. But she had found better ways to handle it.

*****

The next weekend Aditi was at her parents' house again. After dinner on Saturday, the family were sitting in the lawn when her father told them that there was a marriage proposal for Aditi. She tensed.

'Dad..I am not ready yet..'

'I understand Adu...but I think this one is a good match for you. Why don't you meet him tomorrow and we'll discuss later?', insisted Ranveer.

She had no choice but to agree.

The next day, she met Rajat. He was nice, genial, charming person. She found no issue with him. But the thought of marrying him just felt so wrong...as if she had already made her choice...as if she was already bound to someone.

She could not explain this to her family. They asked her to be open minded and spend some time with Rajat.

*****

Shaurya reached Aditi's flat with another food parcel in his hand. He had not seen her since their meeting in the woods. He reached to see a handsome man in uniform about to leave her flat. She waived him goodbye and turned to Shaurya.

'Mr Khanna...it would be good if you call before coming...' . But he didn't let her finish.

'Who was he?', he asked suspiciously.

'He's a friend, my IPS batchmate', Aditi replied irritated..'and you can't just barge in here anytime you want. Why don't you ever call?'

He ignored her as he set the food on table.

'I have to take a shower first.', she turned and left for her bedroom.

He sat there watching TV until she came back wearing her pajamas. She had her hair tied up in a messy bun. Couple of lose strands had escaped, carressing her neck, settling in the wetness.

While they ate she told him about Rajat.

'Are you interested in him?', he asked frowning.

'I don't know...maybe..it feels a bit weird...', she said munching her food. He felt irritated.

'Arranged marriages are never good...', he said sagely, 'I think its a system where two very different people live together making each other's life hell'.

'My parents had an arranged marriage. They are made for each other...', she countered.

'Its a one-off'...he dismissed.

They finished the food and were watching TV in the living room when it went dark. 'Oh...looks like another power cut..', came Aditi's voice as he heard her getting out of the sofa to get a candle. She tripped over in the dark and fell straight on Shaurya...

A jolt of lightening went though his body as she fell in his lap. The scent of her freshly washed body filled his nostrils. He could feel her curves, the softness...he heard her gasp. His hands wandered on her somewhere, He could feel the curve of her waist in one hand and the soft touch of her thigh on the other. They stilled a moment in there breathing hard, taking in each other in the dark...Their heads moved tentatively, trying to see in the dark, guaging each other's position before he felt her hands press on his shoulders, pushing to move away.

He didn't let her. He tightened his grip, pulling her in, pressing her into himself until his head was nuzzling against her neck, her tight breasts firmly pressed against his chest.

'Mr Khanna...', she gasped mortified..'please...'

She couldn't breathe...his touch was causing havoc in her...she felt strange sensations running through body. It was on fire inside out. Her skin burned under his touch...her insides melted in the heat.

What's happening?...she wondered...this is all wrong...this has to stop. She tried to push him again but he tightened his hold. She struggled. His lips grazed her neck and nibbled. She tried to resist but couldn't. The lights came back.

They sat there for a moment, looking at each other, Aditi in his lap. His face was stormy, hers hot with embarrassment. Breathing hard, she pushed him away and got up stepping back from him staring in disbelief.

He got up, looking at her hard, and left.

She stood there unable to move, trembling, thinking what just happened.

***** *****

Thanks for the update Mona🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂. Another wonderful update ...Shaurya is definetly has feeling s for Aditi now ....and Aditi still not aware what her heart want ....hope she will realise it soon ....may be meeting Rajat will be eye opener for her for registering her feeling for Shaurya ...🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔...lets wait and read ....eagerly waiting for next update ....please do continue soon ....u r already updating on great speed🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Chapter 19.

Shaurya reached home and went straight into shower. He put it on the coldest setting and stood there, breathing hard...He was finding it hard to calm his body. He was aroused beyond imagination.

What was he thinking...grabbing her like that..It had scared her...

What had happened to him? Why did he do that? Had he forgotten his Mahek?... he questioned.

No...he reassured himself..he hadn't forgotten Mahek. She was with him every step...in the form of Aditi. He didn't want to see Mahek's lifeless pictures on his wall when her living image was in front of him...Aditi wasn't Mahek, but her face was that of Mahek...

He just had to make sure to remain in good books with her...make sure Aditi is ok so he will have Mahek in front of him forever.

'Is that the only reason?'...his inner voice mocked him. 'What about those gray eyes?..what about the woman underneath the skin?'

'She is just a friend...', Shaurya answered annoyed, his frustration peaked, 'nothing more...'

'And what happens now that she knows of your deceit? your betrayal of her trust? Will she still remain a friend to you?', the inner voice mocked again.

No...He had to apologise to Aditi...Somehow he must make sure she keeps meeting him...he thought. Aditi was his only link to Mahek.

*****

The next day Aditi came home tired. It was a bad day for her...she could not focus on anything. Her mind kept going to the last night's events. She thought in disbelief what had happened. She thought he was a friend but his actions yesterday said something else. She felt betrayed.

She also wondered her own reaction to him. What had happened to her when he touched her? She was annoyed, confused at her inability to understand.

Finishing her shower, Aditi came out to see Shaurya sitting on the sofa. Mausi had let him in before leaving. Aditi's face contorted in rage.

'How dare you come here Mr Khanna...', she thundered..'Get out of my house...'

'Aditi please...I just came to apologise for my behaviour yesterday...'

'Don't call my name..', she thundered.

'But I thought we are friends?', asked Shaurya.

'I thought so too, Mr Khanna.', she replied. There was a silence. Her steel gray eyes were trained on his, unblinking.

'Explain yourself.'

He felt hot under the collar. He had to control the damage somehow...

'Look...I'm sorry how I behaved yesterday...I just couldn't control...you remind me so much of Mahek...', he blurted.

Her face changed colour. Her breathing stilled.

'Is that why you spend time with me Mr Khanna? Because I look like Mahek?'

He did not reply. He just stood there...unable to meet her eye, unable to utter a word, his guilt and shame written on his face.

So this was the reason...she thought...this was why he was here...because she looked like his wife. Not because he was her friend or cared for her...

An inexplicable sadness filled her heart...her eyes stung with tears. She had trusted this man...considered him her friend. But he was just here for his own selfish motive. For him she was just an image of his dead wife...nothing else. He had again treated her as a piece of meat, not caring about her feelings. She watched him with a yearning she could not explain, the agony in her heart just unbearable.

He was not the man she thought him to be, wished him to be. She had to let him go.

'Aditi...please ...forgive me...', he tried again.

But she had turned away. 'Please leave'.

As she shut the door behind him, there was a strange sense of loss in her, his betrayal now a physical pain in her heart. She felt used...violated. She went to bed shaking in tears, her heart broken to a thousand pieces.

*****

Shaurya could not sleep. He was tossing and turning in his bed thinking how it went all wrong. His one moment of weakness, a momentary lapse had destroyed all that he had worked for. He wanted to make friends with Aditi so he would have the face of Mahek in front of him forever. But it had all come crashing down.

Aditi had looked lost. She had looked utterly broken, the shock of his betrayal evident on her face, tears of inexplicable yearning and sadness streaming from her eyes. He knew that look. It was how Mahek had looked when he had cheated her, left her at the Mandap.

He sat up with a jolt.

His mind went back to the sunny afternoon in the wood...the cool breeze, the Neelgiri frangrance and Aditi's face...calm, serene, blissful. He closed his eyes as the realisation hit him. Why was he so blind?... How did he not realize? Her actions, her face screamed it at him...that she loved him. She was calm, serene in that wood with him because she was in love with him, trusting him unconditionally, feeling safe in his presence. And in her innocence, she was not even aware of it.

He sat there stunned as he digested this. Aditi was in love with him.

And what about himself?..he thought. That afternoon had affected him as well...in ways that were beyond possible. He had felt rested, calm and serene in Aditi's presence. The darkness on his heart had vanished. Did it mean he loved Aditi back? No...It can't be...

Shaurya closed his eyes as he looked into his heart...from the deep whirlpools of his inner workings, a sweet, smiling face with dark eyes floated to the surface...

'Its Mahek...', he thought relieved.

Then the eyes turned lighter, brighter...

He sat down shaking, his heart confused. Does this mean...he loved Aditi back? He could not understand. How could he love Aditi when he already loved Mahek? He ran his hands in his hair in frustration, trying to think straight. No...this can't be...He only loved Mahek and will always love her alone...

'Mahek is gone...', his inner voice said. 'You can't live in the past...You have to let it go...'

'No...I can't betray Mahek...', he thought stubbernly, his eyes turning hard.

He'll have to let Aditi go...

***** *****

Thanks for the uodate Mona 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂. U have beautifully written the inner turmoil of both Shaurya and Aditi ...Shaurya has started to acknowlege his love for Aditi ....but she has not realised why she is feeling sad on hearing of Mehek ...may be her heart is expecting something else....both are at crucial stage of their thought process ....hope they will take right decision for each other ....eagerly waiting for next update ....do continue soon 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Originally posted by: AD04

Thanks for the uodate Mona 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂. U have beautifully written the inner turmoil of both Shaurya and Aditi ...Shaurya has started to acknowlege his love for Aditi ....but she has not realised why she is feeling sad on hearing of Mehek ...may be her heart is expecting something else....both are at crucial stage of their thought process ....hope they will take right decision for each other ....eagerly waiting for next update ....do continue soon 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Thanks Arti🙂🙂..yes..Shaurya needs to accept mahek is gone and start seeing aditi for the woman she is.

Well written...is any chance aditi is shaurya's mehek,how aditi recognised the spices and all...please please give a twist and see aditi is our mehek...meherya live happily ever after.....

Originally posted by: Debomita93

Well written...is any chance aditi is shaurya's mehek,how aditi recognised the spices and all...please please give a twist and see aditi is our mehek...meherya live happily ever after.....

No dear...Aditi is not Mahek. It was establised right in the first chapter when she watched both Saurya and Mahek on TV.

Aditi knows the spices from her orphanage..she used to hide in the kitchens and store room most of the times. This was explained in chapter 17 I think.

This FF is about Shaurya's moving on. Life happens and people die. we all lose loved ones, but still get on with our lives.

After Mahek fell from that bridge in Hrishikesh, they showed Shaurya grieving. I wondered how he agreed to marry Archie just like that. If Vandana wasn't there, he would have gone ahead with the marriage. So I thought of this FF, a more plausible way for him to move on.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but Mahek is not coming back in this FF.

I might come up with somethng else later, but need to finish this one first.

Chapter 20.

Few months later...

It was nearly 11 PM. The late diners were already gone. Finishing his work, Shaurya came out. He was near the car park when a faint scent of Neelgiri hit him. He turned around and saw her...

Standing at the edge of the fence staring into the dark wood beyond, was a beautiful girl with twinkling eyes... Her ebony hair flew in the breeze, her body still against the night light. Then she turned and beckoned him...Come here...she seemed to say...please take me beyond..I'll show you a wonderland of peace and quiet...rustling leaves and bright light...come my sweet...she seemed to plead...I'll give you a kiss...if you do...she said with a sweet smile...and call you sweetheart...

Shaking himself out of his dream, he wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead. Then he resolutely turned away and drove away.

*****

Aditi came home exhausted. It was quite late than her usual time, she was desperately hungry. As she entered the house she stilled. It seemed so empty...bare. She looked at the cold food Mausi had left for her at the dining table...then she looked at the sofa. She threw the food in the bin and went to bed.

Her nightmares came in a flurry, she suffered them alone in pain. Her tears streamed endlessly as she remembered a wooden hut and rain.

*****

Shaurya came home and threw his coat on his bed. He was tired, angry, frustrated. Why, o why was he having these dreams? These flashes of memories? He had decided to let her go, kept away from her, not even looked at her for the last few months. Then why did he keep having these dreams? Why did he see her everywhere, smiling at him, laughing with him, dancing with him?

He closed his eyes in exhaustion as he exhaled. He must keep calm...this will pass...he thought. Time is the only medicine...

He wondered how she was...she had looked so lost, broken. Did she also suffer his loss? Did she miss him too?..he wondered.

Did he want her to miss him?...he did not answer that.

*****

Ranveer Shekhawat watched his daughter from his study window. She was in the garden, in her favourite patch of flowers, digging dirt and spacing plants. She had fresh set of pots ready as she would be repotting some of the plants later. She worked methodically, focussing single mindedly on the task. Her eyes were empty.

He sighed. What had happened to her? This was her favourite hobby, her passion. She used to be herself when she was with her flowers and plants. Now she looked lost...

She had also lost more weight, her face had a palor, her lips looked parched. His heart lurched at the sight of his child. Is it the nightmares again?...he needed to find out.

'She looks as if she is pining for someone...', said his wife from behind him.

He turned around to look at her. He hadn't considered that possiblity.

*****

'Adu, I need to talk to you...', Aditi heard her father call as she came down finishing her shower. She entered his study and he shut the door behind her.

'How are your nightmares?', he came straight to the point.

Aditi looked at him, then away. 'They are getting better, Dad..'

'You are looking very unwell Adu. If its not the nightmares, is there anything else that is troubling you?'

Aditi's eyes stilled. Then she shook her head. 'No Dad..there's nothing else...'

His eyes narrowed.

'If its not the nightmares or anything you know, we better see a good doctor'.

*****

The doctor could not find any major physical ailment. Her blood pressure was lower than expected, her blood counts were wanting, she needed to eat properly. It might be stress or anxiety related to her work, he suggested. Its better to treat it early as it might lead to depression, he warned. A few days of holiday will help. He also recommended a good phsychiatrist in case they wished to explore that option.

They came home, each lost in their own thoughts.

***** *****

Ok waiting for ur next update....

Thanks for the update Mona🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂. Another beatifully written update 👏👏👏👏👏👏. Loved it ....so they were not meeting each other now ....and its impact can be seen on their lives. Its high time they should accept their feelings for each other ...lets c who gonna initiate talk first. Eagerly waiting for next update. Do continue soon🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏