Fate of Fireflies

Chapter 14

"What would you like to have?", Shaurya nudged menu to Mehek. He had taken her to an expensive restaurant. He had booked the entire place not just for privacy but to ensure their safety. His men were placed in convenient distance not to eavesdrop in their conversations. She seemed to be tensed, asking him to order for her as well. "Chocolate milkshake?", he asked trying to woo her sweet tooth but she denied, "Any fresh juice will do". He waited until she was ready. He wanted her to know that ball was in her court. He decided to let her set the pace.

He gazed nervously at the whiskey glass served before him waiting for her to make the first move. As she remained cold without moving, he coaxed her.. "Have it, Mehek", he encouraged her to drink her glass of juice, "you don't have to be tensed". She smirked at him, "Why not? After all you are a man who has power to destroy me". "I am your husband", he countered. "You are not", she spat at him, "I never married you, Mr Shaurya Khanna". "Mehek, I am still the same man", he tried to grab her hand on table but she moved back. "You are not", she shook her and looked away, "the same person. You SK not Artho".

It took several moments of silence for Mehek to compose herself. Restraining her tears seemed to be difficult. She was too proud to breakdown in public even at her lowest point. She suppressed urge to find comfort with the man who was beside her. He may claim to be her better half but she was resolute to keep him at bay. He is no lesser than a stranger for her. 

"I want to leave", she told him decisively but soon rephrased her words as a request, "please let me go". "Not possible, Mehek", he replied, trying his best to hide his aggression, "I won't let you go. Not anymore". "You did once. Why not again?", she asked him angrily. "Biggest mistake of my life", he accepted his fault, "I won't repeat it". He had believed that she will be safe away from him. However time taught him that she was too tangled in his messy world to escape.

"I will go far away", Mehek told him softly, "Far away where no one knows me. Start a new life amidst strangers and live peacefully alone". Shaurya remained mum listening to her. Once he had wished she will lead a new life away from him. He had let her go for her own good. But now it seemed to be impossible to leave her. She was wounded physically and emotionally. He wanted to heal her while protecting her. Even the thought of losing her, gave him chills. "I will not reveal your secrets to police or anyone. I promise", she mistook his silence as doubts on her intention.

"I am not worried about Police. They can't touch me", Shaurya laughed softly as if mocking her words. "You cannot leave , Mehek", his words no longer bore softness he had bestowed on her, "in few days I will be introducing you to my world as my wife. Their queen". Her eyes widened with fear, "Atharv....", she shook her head as if correcting her mistake, "SK, I don't want to be known as yours". "You have no choice. Accept it as your fate", he moved the juice to her suggestively, "Finish it and lets leave". 

"This is not my fate", she fiercely countered, "I was tricked to believe someone whom you were never". "Whatever it may have been", he tried to reason her, "you made a choice to trust a man whom you knew nothing about. I warned you but you didn't waver. Now it's time for you walk on the path you had picked up".

Mehek boldly leaned, grabbing his drink. "I won't", she challenged his decision. "I was married to the man I loved. You are not him", she finished his drink in one go, "One way or other, I will leave. You can either let me go respectfully or ", she leaned forward, "I will escape under your nose". He smiled wickedly before pulling her into his lap, "you can try, my Sweet". He kissed her lips briefly, tasting aftermath of alcohol, "But I can assure you will fail". 

She turned her face away. "Think about it, Mr. Khanna. Why do you want to be embarrassed before your people. Let me leave with your permission. You can marry a woman who fits in your world. She can give you an heir & few spares", she tried to reason keeping her anger in check.  Still he didn't allow her to get up from his lap. "I already have my wife here with me", he relaxed his hold on her and then tried to comfort her, "we will have children when time is right".

She quickly jumped off his lap. "Even the thought of your touch makes my skin crawl", she was disgusted, "Mr. Khanna stop taking it on your ego and just let me go.". "Quit asking something that I cannot give, Mehek", he made her sit in her seat, "And it is not for my pride. I truly care for you. You know it in your heart". She started to breath heavily , trying hard not to come in terms with his words. He offered comfort, "Calm down and relax. Do you want another drink?". 

She turned away her gaze elsewhere as if he presence was burning. "I know you are hurting, Mehek. I wish I could take away all your pain and worries. Yet I can't", he squeezed her hand, "you are not in a state of mind to think rationally. I am willing to wait and give you enough time to heal. It doesn't matter however long it may be. Even a lifetime is worth the wait. But you have to be beside me".

He pulled back and went back to his seat as if they didn't have the most intense discussion. "Now lets eat something. Why don't we order your favourites?", he offered while calling the waiter. She looked on to attentively as he ordered all her favourite dishes. "I will take another drink", she raised the whiskey glass and ordered. "Anything you want, my Sweet", although he didn't approve her drinking more. Remaining afternoon they acted as a couple who came out for a lunch, enjoying solitude.

When they both got up to leave, she moved closer to him. "Thanks for the food & drinks", her lips curved in vicious smile, "Be warned, Mr. Khanna. I will try dirtiest trick in your book until I escape. Don't say that I didn't warn you". He balled his fist in anger but didn't show on his face. "One more time you address me as Mr. Khanna", he grabbed her jaw, "I will f*ck your sweet mouth". She angrily freed herself from his grip, "Don't expect me to call you Atharv. You are not him". "Start with Shaurya", he told mischievously trying break their ice, "other sinful names can wait until I get you screaming under me in bed". "In your dreams", she scoffed. "Always in my dreams", he replied wickedly.