Selfish LOVE

Part 4

Shamsher's happiness was short lived. The next few days brought him back to reality. Though Mehak agreed verbally, she remained reserved and unapproachable. She didn't really seek him out and only answered in monosyllables, that is when she was with him.

A large portion of her time was taken up by his mother. Mrs Dilawar had decided to take her under her wing and groom her into the perfect jewel of their elite society. Mehak was beautiful beyond compare, and Mrs Dilawar was only too happy to shower clothes and riches on her favourite and most indulged son's wife. She never had a daughter and Mehak was polite and docile, she didn't oppose her mother-in-law much. Her older bahu was not so easy going and so Mehak's acquiesce in all matters of fashion, clothing, jewellery and society was refreshing to Mrs Dilawar.

Mrs Dilawar had always been a soft woman, she disliked her husband's intrigues and politics, and the coterie of sharp men and their equally sharp wives that surrounded him and her. She wanted a simple life, but destiny had thrust her at the top of an elite, corrupt and murky society. And so she learnt to be there, and intended to teach Mehak the same.

For her part, Mehak couldn't bring herself to be rude to an older person. She had no knowledge of their society, but she knew that without Mrs Dilawar and Shamsher, she wouldn't survive. Mrs Dilawar was the saner of the two and so Mehak gladly followed her lead.
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They had decided to hold a reception in a newly acquired hotel. And she was getting ready in their hotel room, and again the room was decorated with flowers. Mehak took a bloom in her hand and brought it to her face, it was a rich red colour, the scent was heady.
"Beautiful." He said looking at her.
Mehak could see his reflection in the mirror, standing behind her in black and gold sherwani. The ensemble should've looked extravagant, but he carried it with natural sophistication. The beauticians getting her ready for the event, quietly bowed and left.

Mehak looked at her reflection and then at his, waiting for an answer, "Yes, they are beautiful"
He just smiled at her. Mehak couldn't meet his eyes, he looked at her again. She just huffed.
"What? You've heard this too many times?"
"I never really thought about it. I was too busy working"
Her classes, helping her father, tutoring her sister and then household chores. In between all this, their family also attended some functions, marriages and such. Their modest living had a simplicity, routine and calm.
All gone now. No one would invite them anymore. Maybe someday but it would take a long time for it to be all normal.

"Oh?" He leaned against the dresser taking her soft, small hand in his. "You have all the time in the world now" he murmured.
She tried to pull her hand back. He tightened his hold slightly, "I can't hold your hand?"
She just stared at him, "We are not a normal couple, and I haven't accepted this marriage yet, so" she pulled her hand back and this time he let go.
"Why can't you accept this marriage? What's stopping you?" He asked.
Mehak thought that they were finally going to fight, he seemed to have run out of his patience.

As if he could read her mind, he took a deep breath and tried to control himself.
"Would you have accepted it in my place. If you were forced and humiliated, if your father was sent to jail and tortured?"
Shamsher's handsome face was a mixture of exasperation and patience.
"Mehak, I understand you are upset, but..."
"Upset?" She was angrier now, why was he like this? How could he still claim to love her and treat her like this?
"You didn't break my tea tray, Shamsher." Mehak spoke slowly, trying to remain calm, "You sent my sick, old father to jail. Jail! For no crime at all."

She could feel tears in her eyes and she hated him, whenever she remembered their helplessness and how he took advantage of his power. He still didn't understand anything. To him she was a just wilful woman, throwing tantrums, that he needed to placate and tame.
"I love my father and you hurt him. I would've forgiven you if you had sent me to jail," Shamsher looked startled at this declaration, "but not him."

"I could never dream of hurting you like that, I..." and Mehak knew what he meant, she cut him off.
"But you have, when you threatened my family." She said softly. She got up from the dresser, signalling the end of this conversation. Shamsher was unwilling, he stepped in front of her but before he could say anything, a servant interrupted them, his mother was calling them down. He extended his arm, and she took it, just barely touching, they walked downstairs, the whole family was waiting.

The ballroom was splendid, with graceful arches, crystal chandeliers and velvet furniture. Guests mingled, chatting and laughing, dressed in their best, for this was a long awaited event for some of them. They wanted to see the girl, that had bewitched the Nawabzada Heir. Shamsher had a reputation of being indifferent towards most women, he was arrogant, outspoken, and maddeningly out of reach. He drove women wild and one slip of a girl had managed to make him beg, plead and finally threaten her into accepting his suite.

First, Nawabzada Dilawar and his wife entered the hall, followed by a number of relatives and cousins. His eldest son, Dara, and wife had arrived earlier to welcome the guests. Afterwards a stream of businessmen, politicians, industrialists, bureaucrats made their way. Soon the room was filled with soft murmurs, and music. Finally, the newlyweds made their appearance, Mehak and Shamsher looked like a fairy tale couple.
The famed beauty, and the tamed beast, they whispered, if not for her lower class... they continued feigning pity.
Still their eyes lingered and followed her.

The party has been going on for sometime when Shamsher excused himself and then Mehak heard a gunshot and a scream.
"No!"