Enslaved by Love

CHAPTER 28

"What do you mean?", Shaurya asked quickly. "I am a doomed soul, Shaurya. I disrespected your love. Failed to nurture our relationship or even protect my own child", Mehek blamed herself while he stood dumbfound. "You always treated me well but I gave you only pain. I am probably barren and unable to give the only thing you demanded from me, a son. Now that your face is healed, you can have your well-deserved second chance in your life", she went on,"you dont need me" . He couldn't bear to hear more as he knew where she was heading . "Mehek, please stop. I am guilty. It was I who didn't understand you. My anger caused the mishap and still I went on punishing you. You have every right to rip me apart. But don't do this to me", he implored her.

 "Leave me, Shaurya. Throw me out of your life. Move on with your life with a women who can give you a stable life and family. It prove once again I am incapable of it. None can remain happy with me", Mehek blamed herself. Shaurya realised how cruel he had been to Mehek over past few months. Though her misery had hurt him, he never stopped. His sorrow of losing his child and anger at her for leaving him, made him insensitive and blind. Yet she remained by his side as his angel, taking all the blame and suffering his wrath. Now he has broken her completely.

Shaurya pulled her to his arms and kissed her fervently. He never kissed her after her miscarriage. Though initially shocked, soon Mehek yielded to him. She had missed him, his kisses and passion. His desperate act to console her soon progressed to be sensuous. He carried her to their bed. He realized that it's been long since he made love to her. Ever since she came from hospital, they just had s*x for the sake of having a child. He looked at her lovingly and sensing his emotions tears brimmed in her eyes. "Please don't cry", he kissed her tears away when she closed her eyes. 

"Let us part ways, Shaurya. You will never be happy with me", Mehek whispered to him. He shook his head. She gently touched his face , trying desperately to find traces of his scars but sadly couldn't. "You are perfect now, all blemishes you shared with me are gone and you deserve the best", she told him. "I only want you", he said hoarsely. "I love you, Shaurya. Don't let my love become the venom to ruin you. Let me go, Shaurya", she begged again. He wanted to laugh at the irony of the situation. Finally when Mehek confessed her love for him, she was too broken to be with him. Slowly and steadily he had thrashed her heart to pieces. 

"Please forgive me", Shaurya begged Mehek. He was unable to gather appropriate words to convey his feelings for him. He wanted his deeds to speak more than a his words. He captured her lips again and she was lost in him. She pulled him closer as if she may lose him otherwise. She found her lover in him again. He adorned her body with his kisses trying to heal the wounds inflicted by him. "Make love to me, Shaurya", she implored him. She cried out in pleasure when he made passionate love to her.

Mehek felt complete in Shaurya's arms. She turned to watch his sleeping figure. She looked at him lovingly, trying to etch every line and inch of his face into her memory. It was a special night for her .She understood that their love has not lost its life. It may have failed miserably but still alive and it was enough for her for rest of the life. She covered herself and moved away. She pulled out the chain carefully from his neck and walked away with the key. She looked back once again. She wished him all happiness and success in life, before bidding a silent farewell

"Sir, we have found her at a bus station. She is planning to leave the city. Shall we stop her and bring her back?", his man asked him. Shaurya closed his eyes thoughtfully. He knew she was gone the moment he opened his eyes. But his men managed to trace her. "Sir?", he asked again. "No need. Let her leave. But follow her discreetly to ensure she reached her destination safely", he ordered and disconnected the call. Mehek was wrong to assume that he will be happy away from her. But he recognized it was he who was burning her alive. He always tried to bound her to himself without care. His selfishness and obsession had caused severe damage to her. It was time to let her go and find her happiness. He knew no one could take her place in his life. He will live a tormented life with her memories and die alone.

A MONTH LATER

He stood infront of his easel trying to paint on the canvas. He was trying to reinvent his talent which he had lost over the time. He wondered what his mother will think if she saw his half-baked work. The clock chimed 6 O' clock so he quickly moved to the window. He had moved into this mediocre studio apartment a week back, pretending as an aspiring artist. The apartment was on second floor of an old building, providing ample view of the road and shops beneath. Her shift was till 6 pm. He eagerly waited to catch glimpse of her. She finally came out, clad in an oversized sweater with faded muffler around her neck. 

This was best time of his day. She usually stopped before the old lady who sold flowers. She will greet her nicely before buying a single flower - a tulip or a lily. She will then sit outside the patisserie while enjoying the sweet she had bought. She appeared serene and settled, however he longed to see her smile. She worked in a nearby restaurant as junior chef and often filled in as their waitress. A curtsy smile was pasted on her face while serving customers but it was nothing but fake. Many a times he tried to walk into the restaurant but failed miserably. Now she was listening to street musicians. She pulled few coins from her pocket and gave it to musicians before walking to her hostel.

"She needs you, Buddy", Purab's voice beamed in his mind. Purab had supported him throughout his life. He stood beside him like a true friend when Shaurya let Mehek go. Purab too felt it was for the best. When he knew the entire picture, he agreed that being with Shaurya had only given her pain and damage her. But few weeks back, Purab met Mehek accidentally during his leisure trip to a remote hill station. "She looked so depressed. Her face made her sadness evident to me. I couldn't find life in her eyes. She barely acknowledged me and walked away. Mehek looked so lost. Shaurya, I think it was not wise to let her leave you", Shaurya recalled Purab's words. It was enough for him to rush to her side. 

Shaurya quickly left everything and came down to see Mehek. He went to the restaurant to meet her but didn't have the courage to face her. What if she be angry ? Or worst afraid of me?, he couldn't come in terms with his fear. He decided to take some time before meeting her. Hence he moved from his posh hotel to a studio apartment closer to Mehek's work place. He relished the pleasure of seeing her everyday until he figured out the situation.

Few days later. Mehek sat on the wooden stairs that led to the attic of the building. She had already realised Shaurya was watching her. His men would have kept a close watch on her , reporting her life to him. It was expected that he will finally make his move to take back what is rightfully his. She had an eerie feeling of his eyes following her everywhere. She couldn't decipher why she felt glad that Shaurya was near. Despite her odds, she felt protected. 

It took couple of days to figure out the place where Shaurya stayed. Mehek was surprised to find him settle for a humble boarding in name of studio apartment. From that day onwards she had spent extra hours before his apartment to give him ample view of herself. It was a gesture from her side to show she had given up fighting a long while ago and he can quit playing games with her. Still he never showed his face. Finally she had enough so she came into his apartment. She waited for him sitting on the stairs, hidden in shadows with a perfect view of his door until he arrived.

Shaurya climbed up the stairs carrying grocery bags. He was struggling with keys to open the door when he heard a soft voice, "Need some help?". He was startled to see Mehek walking towards him with a blank face. He stood frozen when she took keys from him and opened the door. "Won't you invite me inside?", Mehek asked sarcastically