A Wrong Move

Chapter 3

A typical Romeo & Juliet story. Love story of Shruti and Vicky can be termed simply as it is. 

Born to families who were unable to bear sight of one another, these youngsters however fell in love. When Shruti's family came to know about the affair, they frantically searched for good alliance for her. Many families came forward with proposal of their eligible sons for Shruti but all of them were successfully stalled by Vicky. They were sensible enough not to consider an unwilling bride who is love with another man. 

Soon it reached to a point that Shruti's father felt challenged and in his desperation he went straight to Khanna family. Despite knowing about Shaurya Khanna's wayward lifestyle, her father fixed her alliance wit him. Being high on pride, he didn't mind gambling his daughters future and happiness.

"I am ready to stay happily unmarried for my whole life to please my father's stubbornness ", Shruti spoke to Mehek, "But I cannot marry another man and play his dutiful wife. It gives me creeps to think even to let another man touch me when my heart belongs to Vicky". Mehek stayed silent as she could understand her. Eventhough she had known Ajay for a less time, they had formed an affectionate bond. It is painful to fathom a life without him. She could understand Shruti's predicament who is on love with Vicky since long. 

"Once Shaurya Khanna knows that I was Vicky's lover, he will torture me for life. I will be added to his betrayers list. He will neither divorce me nor kill me", Shruti sobbed. "Why can't we go to your fiance, Mr Khanna and explain to him? Perhaps he will understand and withdraw", Mehek suggested. "He won't", Vicky spoke softly, "Khannas are not just business rivals but our arch enemies".

"Shaurya Khanna is my cousin", Vicky's revelation shocked Mehek, he continued, "His late mother was my father's elder sister". "Family feuds amidst relatives", she tried to understand. "It runs deeper that you think. I am ashamed to admit that my family is completely at fault", Vicky looked down in shame, "My Aunty was victim of honour killing". "What???", Ajay was shocked. Vicky nodded his head and narrated the story. 

"Harish Uncle was a simple man. A good looking, learned man with good character but not from a rich family. Karuna Aunty fell in love with him when they were in college. They eloped to get married. My grandfather was furious and disowned her. Years later, they came back to city with their son. Shaurya was around 7 years old and Karuna Aunty was carrying her second child. Harish Uncle had made a name of himself and gathered enough wealth for them to live sumptuously. They were not filthy rich drowning in money but well off owing to his hard earned money. Aunty may have expected to reconcile with her father, expecting his anger would have mellow down. But he was a heartless man. He didn't spare her , instead he got her killed". All gasped in shock.

"My father was much younger to Karuna Aunty. He had no hand in this crime. But he is guilty of not raising his voice against his tyrannical father. His silence costed several lives", Vicky sighed, "Karma did best. My grandfather was punished by fate. He was diagnosed of cancer and suffered a lot till his last day", a strange sense of satisfaction was reflected in his tone. "But for Harish Khanna it was not enough", Vicky spoke emotionally, "He swore to burn our family name to ashes. From a man with values he became an astute business man. Soon our business collapsed while his bloomed. He became cunning and greedy for his revenge and nurtured Shaurya to become a heartless successor". 

"Mehek, please help me", Shruti quickly grasped her hands, "Shaurya Khanna will torture me endlessly. My family is too blind to see the truth. By the time they realise their mistake, it will be too late for me. Please help me". Mehek gazed nervously at Shruti's tear filled eyes and folded palms. For a moment, her past flashed before her. Face of her birth mother. A woman who was tortured daily by her husband. In her desperation to escape the living hell, she lost her own life. Can she push another woman to same fate?

Few hours later. Mehek glanced at her own reflection. She looked like a glam doll. The deep red colour dress she had worn, hugged her curves alluringly. The high side slit gave ample view of her s*xy legs. It would take a second glance of even familiar people to recognize her. The admiration from Vicky and Mohit proved it. Ajay didn't know how to respond so he quickly asked Vicky to proceed. 

"Mehek, you have to get Shaurya to these cameras in the corridor", Vicky explained through his laptop. He had already hacked into the security cameras of club. "Few minutes are all we need. Few apt frames to prove that Shaurya is cheating on Shruti. Once such solid proof comes before his eyes, Shruti's father will break the engagement. He never adheres to betrayal ". "Vicky..", Ajay paused being unsure how to make his demand. "Don't worry, Ajay. I will keep Mehek's face as hidden as possible. Mehtas needs to be see their future son-in-law's adultery and not the identity of the other woman".

"Pretend as if you are on stage", Ajay advised her. He knew that Mehek took theatre classes while being at school. It was a way to overcome her shyness. But only Mehek knew the actual truth. Acting provided her an escapade for her. A mechanism to sideline her timidity and be her own queen.

Mehek felt like a different person on stage. She became the character as soon as she hit the floor. However, she always arrived back to original self as soon as the mask was taken out. It acted as an effective escapade from her real world. But soon the transition filled her regular peaks of joy & sadness that she opted out of it. Mehek realised that it was better to stick to one side rather than swinging uncertainly amidst boundaries. 

Mehek closed her eyes and rubbed her temples tenderly. She took Ajay's advice. For few hours, she will be another person. I am Annika Mittal. Gold digger wife of a wealthy old man. Tonight I am out of fun leaving behind my tiring husband. 

"Incase, our plan goes awry", Mohit was about to advise but Vicky intervened, "Then just come clean and save yourself. There is no need for you endure any torture. Afterall, we are done, if we fail tonight". His helpless burdened all who gathered around but Mehek was first to console him, "We won't fail, Vicky". Sonal was first to hug her and screamed , "You are a gem", she then glanced at Ajay, "Don't you dare lose her". Despite the tension, a sweet smiled bloomed on his face.

"I am trusting you with most precious person in my life", Ajay told Vicky. As time neared, he was having second thoughts of pulling Mehek out of the dirty game. "I know but trust me I will handle everything", Vicky promised him. "For this plan to work, we need someone whom cannot be easily traced", he reasoned, "Mehek perfectly fits the bill". The more he tried to explain, the more Ajay got scared. "You know It's for a good cause", Vicky was desperate. Ajay sighed and agreed eventhough his heart was at war.

Mehek felt so exposed while waiting at the bar counter sipping her virgin pina colada. The bar attender was Vicky's man. Currently he was her only accomplice. Ajay and Mohit were just a call away but not inside the club. Their eyes were on her owing to the hacked CCTV setup. Few men could have shown interest on her but the bar attender waded them away with excuses. 

Finally the target arrived. The Shaurya Khanna walked in majestically. But rather than a prey he appeared to be the hunter. Mehek's heart started to beat miles per hour. Fear crept into her but along with that a strange anticipation also seized her. A slight sense of adventure seeped into her senses while she studied the specimen whom she was supposed to seduce.

Shaurya Khanna. Indeed a man to be admired. His features and physique screamed out that creator had spent enough time to carve out the perfection. For a moment Mehek was lost in admiration. He appeared to be Hero out of the romantic novels she was addicted to. But he is a Villain. Her reasoning woke her up. She recalled flaws in his personality. A heartless egoist. A disciplined conqueror who crushes down his rivals brutally. But not without his share of weakness. He fails to keep his member in his pants and wishes to sink deep into women. A brute who lusts around shamelessly. Not a man of your dreams but to be kept away even in your nightmares.

While being lost in conflicting thoughts, Mehek didn't realised when he walked beside her until he spoke, "I am Shaurya Khanna".