LIFE I CHOOSE

SURPRISED

2 Months after Mahira's arrest.

As Rahki was busy clearing hers and Mahesh's room, she heard someone ask for water. She stood still because she couldn't believe what she was hearing; she thought, is that Mahesh?, is he awake? and when she turned, she had mixed emotions; so she did the only thing she thought of; at that time. She ran next to him and called; Mahesh!, darling your awake. She hugged him so tightly with tears in her eyes, she couldn't believe that he was finally awake. Mahesh kept asking for water but Rahki wasn't hearing him and because she was very excited and happy, she ran out calling everyone and shouting that Mahesh has awaken up forgetting that he had asked for water.
"Karan, Sammy, Rishabh; come now your dad is awake, please hurry", she called with so much excitement in her voice. They all came out rushing heading to their dad's bedroom and when they reached, he was indeed awake. "Dad", Karan called with tears in his eyes, he was feeling so overwhelming, happy and relived at the same time. He hugged his dad and then started apologizing but Mahesh didn't even know why he was doing this. Poor man was thirsty and confused at the same time. "Get me some water please" he requested and Girish went to get it.

The whole family was happy, Rishabh had called the doctor and was on his way. Mahesh looked at his family and everyone was crying but those were tears of joy. It's been long time and some had even given up on him but here he was and he could see the relief on their faces; he felt sad for having put them through this agony and pain. He wondered how his family has been doing since his accident. He then remembered his conversation with the detective and what Sheilyn's goon had admitted too, his confrontation with Sheilyn, what he had heard her say on phone with Prithvi, his conversation with Preeta and then his accidents. He started being hysterical and mentioning Sheilyn's name. They looked at him puzzled and confused at the same time. But Karan calmed him down and after he asked for Preeta. "Called Preeta's name again; I want to talk to her, can you get her please?, I have to talk to her" he continued to say but no one was moving neither look him in the eyes. They were ashamed of what they did to her and were saved from his questions when the doctor entered and asked them to step outside other than his wife Rahki Luthra.

When, they left his room; they went to the sitting room to wait for doctor to come out and tell them his findings. They seemed worried. "What are we going to tell him about Preeta?" Kritika asked worried. Another one asked "why is he asking about Preeta?" Did he know about Sheilyn too?". "We can't tell him, not when his health is not yet stable, it will shock him, I don't want my son to go into coma again, so I refuse and order you not to say anything" Bani Luthra said. But Sammy disagree with her. "Am sorry grandma but secrets almost destroyed our family, we can't make the same mistake, if none of you tell him, I will personally tell him. Am tied of keeping secrets and do you know how he will feel when he finds out about what happened to Preeta? Or what has been going on?, he won't forgive us" Sammy said. No one dared to answer back meaning they are gonna let him in on the truth but Bani still feels her son may not take it well. Karan on the other hand is queit, actually ever since he got to know the truth, he changed. He's closed off more than ever. He no longer spends time with his friends, as soon as the games are finished; he goes straight home or at Arora's to check if they've got any news about Preeta and even if they show him that they dont need him there, he still goes there. He vowed to it until Sarla Ma forgives him. Life hasn't been great for him but he also isn't giving up. Sometimes he gets worried and thinks the worst must've happened to Preeta like an accident and that she's somewhere in the hospital or worse still dead but doesn't want to voice it out because he feels she's alive somewhere even though apart of him is still scared.

The doctor informed them that Mahesh will get better and needs enough rest to fully heal. They were happy to finally get some good news because recently it's been only bad news after bad bad news;  Rahki informed them that one by one may enter to see him but they were feeling scared because of the questions he may ask them. Karan went first and seeing his dad seated made him happy, he hugged him tightly and told him how he was scared of losing him. Mahesh told him joking that he's not dying any time soon. He asked him about what has been going on during the time he has been in coma. Karan was speechless, he didn't know what to tell his dad and at the same time he had tears in his eyes, he was ashamed; how is he going to tell his dad that their family (him) ruined Preeta's live and that he's gonna be a grandfather. How is he going to take it?, he questioned himself but had no answers, instead he told him that it's not yet time because the doctor advised that he shouldn't get stressed but promised to tell him as soon as he got better. Mahesh didn't press so much but he knew something had happened with the way Karan was behaving. "Let me get well and then make Sheilyn and Prithvi pay for what they did "Mahesh thought. He told Karan he wanted to sleep so he let him be. The others were waiting by the door and were listening in on their conversation and felt relieved when Mahesh didn't press on the issue or ask for Preeta however they have to get ready because whether they like it or not, he's bound to know the truth.

A few weeks later after Mahesh had fully recovered, he was very eager to know what's been happening. From his family's body language he could tell that something was off and where the hell is Sheilyn; was the question on his mind for  these past few weeks as he hasn't seen her or heard anything from her. He was suspicious and he was frustrated because every time he asked, they would change the subject and he went along with it but today he wasn't gonna have it. So during breakfast he asked "where is Sheilyn? and Preeta used to come visit us but I haven't seen her, why is that?". He was serious and they knew he wasn't gonna take their bull shit this time around. They were feeling uneasy to say the least but like his dad, Sammy too was tied of lies  so he asked his dad what he wanted to know. "I will tell you everything you want to know", he told him. The rest were looking but couldn't do so in his eyes, especially Kareena. She was ashamed, scared and thinking about everything because it shames her as she's the reason her family is in this situation . There are a lot of trust issues involved and even if they stay together and live in the same house, they are distant from each other and sometimes they quarrel amongst themselves. It's not the same. Mahesh looked at his wife and she seemed nervous, not just her but everyone present at the table. Kareena wanted to excuse herself because she was scared of facing Mahesh's wrath but he ordered her to stay back. " Can someone tell me what's going on?, where is Sheilyn; in fact call her here and get the police here too" he told them angrily. "Also call Preeta and her family, we have issues to discuss and things to make right" he continued to say.

"Dad, a lot has happened and we apologise for having let things escarlet" Sammy told him. "What do you mean?" He questioned. "We know about your accident and who was behind it, we know it's Sheilyn" Sammy told him. "How and when did you find out? " Mahesh asked. "It was during Karan's wedding", "what now?", you held a wedding when I was in coma?", aren't I that important any more?" Mahesh questioned disappointed. "The wedding didn't push through because we found out that she and Sheilyn were working together" Rahki told him. "And who is this person?, Karan before my accident, you never seemed that you wanted to get married, what made you changeyour mind?". "It's Mahira, do you remember Ramona's daughter?, we were neighbours before we moved here" Rahki answered. So they told him everything and even about their suspicions about Preeta being involved in his accident. As Sammy said that, Karan looked down; he couldn't face his dad. He was afraid. "Preeta never hurt me, are you aware that her accusations against Sheilyn were true, I hired a detective who proved it because I spoke directly to the man Preeta and Sarla had accused of kidnapping and working with Sheilyn. You Rahki, if it weren't for Preeta, you could've been dead, worse still, Preeta could've lost hers unlike you, I decided to look into it and I felt guilty when I found out how wrong we were. "And I still want to talk to her, Rishabh would you please give her a call?" Mahesh asked. He saw that Rishabh wasn't moving and asked why he isn't doing what he asked.

"Dad, Preeta left home and no one knows where she went too" Sammy told him, that made him lose balance and he felt like his head was spinning. "What do you mean she left?, wgat happened to her?". Sammy looked at Karan and felt sorry but he had to tell his dad; so he told him everything about her wedding with Karan why he did so and also the reason she left. Mahesh turned towards Karan and looked at him with anger and disappointment. "How could you do that?, did I raise a beast because that's who you are. How could you be so heartless, tell me; did you forget that, Preeta once saved you from going to jail?, or when you were accused of rape and no one, not even your so called friends were here for you. How could a son of mine be this heartless?, hmm! Tell me. And you: pointing at Kareena, you ruined my son's lives with your narcissist reforms, your destroyed their friendship with Preeta. Am so disappointed in you. The sad part is that, I had told Preeta; how I wanted to have her as a daughter-in-law but you ruined everything. Tell me, how did your mighty revenge turn out looking at Karan; and you didn't even stop there but you got her pregnant and then abandoned her. What kind of person are you? "Dad, I didn't know about the pregnancy, I found out after she had left" Karan answered. "Shut up, you are the worst human being and I hope just like your aunt, your both happy about the outcome" Mahesh shouted at Karan angrily. Neither of you deserve a daughter-in-law, a sister-in-law, or a wife like Preeta and you will never find someone like her. Karan couldn't defend himself, whatever his dad just said, was  true. He lost the woman he loves because of his poor judgement. He's gonna spend his life regretting everything he did to Preeta and maybe this is God's punishment to him.
"Oh and before I forget, go check in my room for the property papers and if they aren't there, we are in very big trouble" Mahesh told Rishahb looking serious.Looking at Karan again he said,n "I can't believe you did this, I can't recognize my son".

Note:
I couldn't write what I wanted, so the rest will be in the next chapter.
Thanks for reading and comments are welcome.