A Wrong Move

Chapter 33

"Harish Uncle", Mehek gasped when she saw him outside her office. Without another thought she ran into his open arms. "I missed you so much", she told him tearfully. "There ,there, My child", he wiped them away even if they were tears of happiness. "Would you like to have lunch with this old man?", he asked charmingly offering his hand. She took it gracefully," Ofcourse, my dearest Uncle". Their next couple of hours were spend in absolute delight as Harish didn't fail to keep her laughing with his silly antics and jokes. 

"Imli is expecting", Harish declared the good news, "she wants to tell it yourself so act surprised when she breaks it to you". Mehek was happy for her friend yet again a vicious feeling poked in her mind. Will I ever be blessed with a family? As if sensing her sadness, Harish held her hand, "Mehek, please give Shaurya a chance". She took a deep breath before talking to her confidante. She had always shared her turmoil with him. Nothing was hidden from him. "I want to. I really do but I am utterly scared", she didn't hid back her insecurities.

"Life is full of uncertainties, Mehek", Harish spoke thoughtfully, "When I fell in love with Karuna, I never thought my life will turn blissful", he recalled his past, "It was a fairy tale between a poor orphan and a princess". He chuckled while she watched him happily narrating his love story. "We only had our love and a bunch of uncertainties when we got married. I often feared that she may leave me when she faced hardships of life. Believe me we had our share of fights as well", he laughed out, "But it all worked out as we loved one another sincierly. Then Shaurya, symbol of our love was born. Slowly we were settled well. Soon we all waited eagerly waited for our second baby. It was perfect. I thought it will last forever". He then looked away being sad. "I never even in my worst nightmares expected that Karuna will be hunted down by her own family. They could gave executed me but they chose a severe punishment for me. A Life without my Karuna".

"I am sorry, Harish Uncle", Mehek consoled him. Although she knew about Shaurya's mother, it was painful to hear it. He took a deep breath and tried to smile. "Eventhough, I suffer every day of my entire life, I am happy to have spent the short time I had with my Love", he spoke guilty, "Although I wish I could have handled her loss and my son in a better way. In my attempt to avenge Karuna, I couldn't guide Shaurya. He grew up observing a broken bitter father who was obsessed with revenge". "I am sure he is proud of you, Harish Uncle. You are a good father", she tried to pacify him but he laughed at himself. "Instead of his mother's gruesome death, I should have shared our loving memories with him. If so, he would have grown up to a man who values love. But I made him lose forget his heart and follow his brain. He ran behind power for revenge and sought pleasure for happiness. I know I failed as a father because I never bothered to correct him", he was aware of his shortcomings, "But you changed him, Mehek. Now he is genuinely trying to be a better man for you. Don't you think he deserves a chance?".

"Mehek, I am not advocating because Shaurya is my son", Harish explained, "I have observed that you are also not happy being away from him. You are also not moving on. Seems like you both are suffering.  I want you both to be happy". She remained indecisive about trusting Shaurya. Stakes were high for her. Shaurya may take just a moment to break her. But a life time also won't be able to make it up for her. "I am aware of your fear, Mehek. Yet nothing in life is permanent. We never know what will happen the next second", he coaxed her, "If I could manage to arrange a security for you, Will you oblige?", Harish asked her. "Security? ", she was clueless. He smiled and spoke, "Come to Khanna mansion tomorrow". She was not ready to go back to Khanna mansion. "Please Mehek. Just for an hour", he begged, " I assure you won't be disappointed".

Next day @ Khanna Mansion.

Mehek sat nervously beside Harish Khanna in his study. Their meet was discreet that even Awara and Imli were send out on some pretext. Soon a man entered whom Harish introduced as his lawyer. She looked at Harish doubtfully but he reassured her to wait for few more minutes. "Dad", Shaurya entered. He was surprised to find Mehek beside him, "Mehek, when did you come? Is everything okay?". He approached her but Harish asked him to sit across them. "I invited all of you for an important matter", he paused to gain attention, "perhaps, it is a wrong move from my side but I propose this measure to safeguard interest of everyone". He then turned to Mehek, "If Mehek agrees to give Shaurya a chance, then she needs to ensure her safety", he looked onto Shaurya, "and you need to take the risk, Shaurya". While both Shaurya and Mehek were baffled, Harish asked his lawyer to explain.