Chapter 15: Shame!

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The engagement venue.

..

Changing into a beautiful gown, she found herself staring at the engagement ring. The tiring, bored day suddenly switched to the best and most beautiful day of her life. She was busy smiling on her own when she saw someone entering the garden, being the last of all.

The man brought a lot of thoughts along with him, that she had completely forgotten. 'He changed his mind because...' She tracked the events and concluded, 'He knew about this happening. That's why he.. chose to hide everything?!'

The man, Daya, on the other side, saw her panicking a little. Her face seemed devoid of happiness and he could see that tensed look on her face, with knitted eyebrows and moist eyes. He wanted to go and talk to her but.. he chose to stay silent. He took some steps close but was far enough from everybody noticing this.

He waved lightly to get her attention.

She didn't respond.

He shook his head slightly as if wanted to tell her not to cry and calm down.

She turned her gaze away to wipe the lone tear off her cheek.

He pulled out his phone and texted her something, "Don't worry! I got this! :)"

Tears didn't stop after reading that little consolation from him. The emoji itself had so much pain behind the screen that she couldn't help but feel really selfish about doing all this to him. Knowingly or unknowingly, she was constantly hurting him and even looking at him brought immense guilt to her!

But she did rest her eyes on him to which he brought his finger and thumb to his lips and asked her to smile again.

He didn't get to see if she smiled or not, as Abhijeet came to her and embraced her in a side hug. He instantly turned to face the other side and took some deep breaths to calm himself a little and got busy with the guests and all.

"Kya hua Tarika? Tum yaha ese.. kisi ka wait kr rhi ho?" Abhijeet asked but after seeing some tears in her eyes, he almost panicked, "Tum ro rhi ho?? Kya.. Kya hua? Yeh.. sb achha nhi laga tumhe-?"

"Abhi!!" She rested her hands on his chest to calm him down, "Esa kuch nhi hai!!! Mai ro nhi rhi hu .. aur yeh surprise mujhe bht bhtt jyada pasnd aaya!" She wiped her eyes lightly and smiled big, but he didn't seem convinced at all.

He just stared at her for a moment and then silently passed her his handkerchief. She took it but got disappointed as he was looking here and there.

"Abhijeet!!" She stressed a little and he glanced at her, "Voh.. makeup ki vjh se shyd aankhon mei irritation ho rhi hai! Trust me!"

"Hn toh kisne kaha tha makeup krne?" He got a little hyper and concerned towards her, "Kya jarurt thi yr Tarika..? Tch.. tum chalo mere sath aur phle yeh makeup hatao!!" He caught her wrist and started taking her towards the dressing room.

"Nhi!!" She pulled him back, "Itni achhi lag rhi hu mai.. makeup nhi hataungi!" She replied stubbornly and silently enjoyed his expressions.

"Tum bina makeup ke bhi bht achhi lagti ho!! Aur kuch kam jyda reaction ho gya ankhon mei toh?"

"Kuch nhi hoga Abhijeet!!!" She tried to convince him and hugged his bicep, "Thori der ki baat hai!"

"Arey lekin-"

"Chup! Meri aankhein hai!! And I know them better than you!!" She replied stubbornly.

"Trust me.. you don't!" He replied with a straight face and she got a little tensed with that tone of his voice. She could feel that tension between them as he was clearly not satisfied with whatever she was bluffing and was a bit suspicious about this.

Before she could lie further, one of Abhijeet's friends approached to congratulate and she was glad that he ignored the matter for the time being and got busy with introduction and things.

--

The whole engagement ceremony was done with everyone wishing the couple a life full of happiness! As soon as she got a moment alone, after Abhijeet walked out of the exit on a call, she approached the lone man, who was standing beside the drinks counter and was acting to be busy with his cell.

"Daya!"

He heard the call and turned to face her. She was looking damn beautiful today. Looking at her beautiful face with the slightest makeup, he smiled a little. No pain in the heart, no guilt, nothing hurdled this time. A genuine small smile was all.

"Congratulations Tarika!" He picked the bouquet from the table and forwarded it to her with a sweet compliment, "You look.. gorgeous!"

She smiled, her cheeks getting crimson. "Thank you!" She looked at him and wished he got the real meaning hidden behind it.

"You don't have to Tarika!" He replied meaningfully with the same smile and a slight shake of head.

"Nahi Daya! I.. I want to thank you! I know mai bht selfish hu-"

"Tarika!" He stopped her right there. His tone was controlled, consoling and also a little strict.

"I.. I owe you Daya!" She was on the verge of breaking. The guilt that was eating her since the confrontation was released now. She felt so.. so relieved and free, owing him wholly.

"Tarika yeh.. yeh baatein baad mei bhi ho jayegi. Right?" He smiled lightly and convinced her with his eyes. "It's your special day! Meri vajah se agar yeh makeup kharab ho gya.. to tumhara fiance meri jaan le lega!" He glanced around and spotted Abhijeet, "Voh dekho kese ghoor rha h mujhe!"

She laughed in tears and wiped her eyes with Abhijeet's handkerchief still with her, and smiled at her would be, who was actually watching them.

"Khair.. tum yaha kyu ho? Vaha chalo na saare guests and mere parents-!" She gently tapped away the traces of guilt from her eyes then excitedly asked him to join and meet her parents and everyone.

"Arey nhi.. mai yahi theek hu. Aur vese bhi thora kaam hai so.. I'll take leave."

"Daya!" A strict call reached his ears from behind. The voice was instantly recognised by both of them while He masked his smile well before turning.

"Mujhe kuch baat krni h!" The ordering and angry tone startled him. He tried to stay calm while his mind got flooded by the various possible reasons for this and especially the worst consequences of his actions.

He downed his head though he knew there was a questioning pair of orbs trying to figure out the seriousness of the situation. He didn't know why he was hesitating or feeling embarrassed to even reply to her with an assuring nod. With the same head-down posture, anxiety building inside him, he followed his mad father while overthinking almost all the worst situations that he could see coming on his way.

"Mission se related saari documents tumne submit kr di thi na?" Angry Acp tried hard to restrain his deadliest phase hover his words.

That's it. So it's related to the Mission. Daya's eyes almost stretched twice in diameter after ruling out the possibilities. This was it! The worst he could be thinking of.. and the worst he could deal with at the moment.

"Kuch.. baki toh nhi reh gya?"

He froze with the second question. He couldn't find what to say, and what not to. Above all, the gaze of his angry father was boring holes in his soul. He was in the toughest situation where he couldn't say anything nor could he keep silence.

The worst was done.

He was screwed!

"Speak something damn it!" Acp yelled loudly, enough to make him flinch.

"Dad.. I-" He could only whisper these broken words before he fell silent again. But the water had gone way above his father's head now.

He shut his eyes tightly to suppress the panic and fear and breathed deeply to keep calm.

"Tumhare alava ek aur officer ne report submit ki h! And all I want you to know is, usme sab kuch saaf-saaf likha h!" He stressed every word with an accusing finger pointing at his son.

Daya turned his face a little sideways but was sure that his father wouldn't stop today. He knew this man since his childhood and was kinda resistant to his anger but the further legal consequences scared the bejesus out of him.

"Kyu chupana chahte the tum yeh baat? Haan?" This was the first time his father lowered the tone but was still shouting.

"It.. it wasn't that.. important." He answered plainly with a stuttering courage.

"Really? Yeh.. yeh baat tumhe zaruri nhi lagti?" Acp yelled his lungs out in shock and anger that his son lied in front of him.. no really, in front of HIM!

"Nhi!"

"Just shut up!! Tumhe thori si bhi sharm nhi aa rhi yeh sab bolte huye? Tumhari aur Tarika ki shaadi huyi thi Daya! It's not a joke!!"

He held his panic to himself and whispered in his head, 'shadi karwayi gayi thi!'

"Aur tumhe yaad dila du mai.. ussi ki engagement mei aaye ho tum!" Acp gritted his teeth, finding some people in their vicinity.

"Janta hu mai." He wasn't lying about how he felt ashamed at the moment. "Le..lekin isme Tarika involved nhi h Sir. Usey in sab se dur hi-"

"I never imagined you this way. Kitna gir gye ho tum?" ACP cut him with a disgusting face.

He tightened his fists while his fear, he feared, was growing inside.

"For your very kind information, ab tumpar inquiry bethne vali h. Headquarters mei investigation start hogi kal se. And.." Acp took a mocking pause and resumed, "Tumhe bata du mai.. ab isme sirf Tarika nhi involve hogi. Uske parents, puri family and Abhijeet bhi involve hoga!" ACP spoke while stressing on Abhijeet's reference.

He felt the sky crushed over his head. No no no! He never wanted this to happen! He never expected such a harsh turn of events. He couldn't stand this anymore. What'll he say to them. What'll he do now? What if this affects Her life? Her relationship with Abhijeet? Damn! He wanted someone to wake him up anyhow. This nightmare, he begged to be, was eating him up now.

He panicked and almost begged to his father "Dad.. dad kuch kijiye na please! Mai khud resign kr dunga yah.. yah jo bhi action liya jayega... I'll see to it! But please Dad.. isme Tarika ki family ko involve hone se bacha lijiye please.. uski just engagement.. dad!" His voice tore in the end and throat ached bad.

Acp took a deep breath before replying rudely, "Mere hath mei kuch nhi h. Mai toh khud nhi janta ki ab mai Tarika ke parents ko kaise face krunga! Aur Abhijeet? Us'sey kya kahunga mai?" Acp pressed his head as the above mentioned questions were stressing him alot, "All thanks to you! Meri kya izzat reh gyi h haan? You know what Daya, You were never worth it! Nah pehle kabhi.. aur na aaj!"

A tear rolled down his cheek. His hidden, ashamed eyes were out of control now. He tried really hard to mask it away but he couldn't. It was so painful to restrain his emotions anymore that he just gave in. Gave in for crying, finally.

"Sab kuch barbaad kr diya tumne! Mujhe tumhe is mission pr jane hi nhi dena chahiye tha! Meri ek galati itni bhari padh rhi h mujhe! Aur haan.." Acp pointed his finger to him, "Yeh mat soch lena ki mai tumhara baap hu toh iss case ko leniently investigate kiya jayega. No! I won't save you!"

"You never did!" Daya whispered, offended and hurt by his father's words.

"I never will!" This angered Acp more. He lost the remaining traces of control and spoke the worst he could ever, "You should know that you are a Shame to me! And better be prepared for the worst!"

The words broke him totally. He stood there blank and frozen.

'I'm a shame!' He repeated in his mind while watching his father's going silhouette.

'I was never worth it!' He repeated again just to receive a shiver run down his cold body.

'I ruined everything! I screwed it up!' He held back his tears and started walking towards his car.

'I am a shame to my father!' He took the driving seat, turned the key and pulled the gear by all the strength he could gather.

'Why am I even alive?!' He pressed the accelerator as hard as he could.

The car whooshed in the silence of the night. He didn't know what he was up to. He could only feel that he wanted to hurt himself or say.. he craved for it! Tears were continuously flowing from his eyes, remembering all the bitter memories he had with his father and above all, today's incidence flashed in front of him. His father's face, holding disgust for him, the words that he used today for his own son, were constantly echoing in his head, not letting him think clearly.

He hazily saw a bridge in front of him. He didn't know why he geared up to the maximum and his foot had already raised the accelerator. The speed was giving him butterflies, and he felt as if he was yearning for this since long. The bridge was about to commence, and he thought there was no better option than this.. and will never be.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and pulled his hands back from the steering.

A/N:- End of the chapter! Sorry about the delay and also for this cliffhanger.

Will try to update soon!!

Have a Nice Day y'all!