Eighteen Minus (COMPLETED)

Chapter 23

'Look Karthik!!! I understand you are her bestie. You care for her but I...I love her-'

'I will rip you into pieces you Beva-....Huhhh!!! You are worse!!! Do you know what she went through because of your so called 'immature teen mistake' for which you are now trying to give explanations? You think it is easy taking away someone's twelve precious years and leaving them to drown in tears, hit a depression, runaway from all that you loved since childhood and start things fresh in an unknown City amongst unknown people?

My Shika did that!!! All thanks to you!!!' Karthik said and I noticed Rajveer putting down his head in shame. I couldn't help but look at Karthik...my Tikki. He was telling things I could never say to anyone. He knew everything about me. My pain, my longing for my family, my struggle. I wiped my tears but they helplessly kept flowing.

'It is easy to come and say a sorry after a decade and confess what you did was wrong but it takes courage to live a life by owning up to your decisions.

I am not saying Shika didn't do a mistake. She did!!! You know what was her mistake? Trusting someone blindly!!! Loving someone without rational thinking... Believing that the man whom she loved and gave her everything will stand by her side but what did you do Rajveer Khandelwal???

You left her to her fate. You ran away!!! You left her nowhere and ran away. But she...she owned up to her mistake and suffered every single lashing which you deserved. She suffered quietly all along and now that you have met her again after all these years you want her back in your life?

What do you think this is? Some redemption novel? A tv serial where the hero comes back and apologizes and then the heroine takes him back?

Areyyyy you didn't even have the courage and audacity to tell her family that it was you...

You were that bastard who left Shika that day all alone at the marriage registrar office. You just left the country Rajveer!!! Didn't you once think about her?

She left her family for you. She ran away from the world only to be with you. She was what??? 18!!!

You know I'm glad that the government has now increased the age limit for girls from 18 to 21 lawfully getting married. Because dogs like you easily manipulate girls and girls... correction...kids who are 18 just get emotionally manipulated for sweet words spoken by jerks like you.

They don't think that their one immature decision could hamper their lives. She left everything for you RajVeer!!! Even her twelfth standard final examination!!!

Can you believe it??? And all this for what??? Because she could marry you!!! And you...you ran away!!! You are sick on another level Rajveer!!! Disgusting.

And all this for what??? To satisfy your male ego??? I am also a man, I would never keep my ego beyond a girl's future.' he said when suddenly Rajveer held Karthik's hand saying

'I know what I did cannot be forgiven...I am ready to do anything to get her back in my life!!! Vanshika...I am sorry for what I did...I will do anything to get you back in my life!!! Anything!!!' he said when Karthik raised an eyebrow asking

'Anything???' and he nodded saying

'Just say it!!!'

Karthik turned around and looked at me. Tears kept flowing from my eyes as my eyes met Karthik's eyes and he cupped my face in both his palms. I could see a weird rage in his eyes. My face burnt as his thumb fingers wiped the tears rolling down my cheeks. That's when he announced

'Confess what you did!!! In front of everyone!!!'

And I was shocked. My eyes widened and my lips parted

'Tikki-'

'No Shika!!! Don't!!! You have run away enough from everything. You have hidden enough from the world. Let him also take it now. Let his true face get exposed.'

'But Tikki...then everyone would know about that-'

'Shika!!! It is not your mistake alone!!! He is the bigger sinner here!!! You can't let him go. His truth should be out in the open. Your family may get angry on you but this monster's true form will also be seen!!! He's the devil in disguise. And for the rest...I am with you. I promise!!!' he said as he wiped my tears again and I looked into his eyes asking

'You...you won't leave me alone na?' I asked for a weird pain shot in my chest.

He took a step closer to me looking into my eyes, he left a soft kiss on my forehead as my entire body was still shaking as he asked

'Have I ever?' and I couldn't help but smile when tears continued rolling down my cheeks. I wrapped my arms around him as I rested my head against his chest. I don't know how long I kept hugging him.

After he few minutes he slowly let go off me and I wiped my face with the back of my palms. Suddenly Karthik held my forearm and pulled me next to him standing infront of Rajveer as he said

'So Rajveer...Can you confess everything to Shika's and your family? Every single thing?'

To which Rajveer looked at me and then looked at him asking
'I can do anything to earn Vansh's forgiveness!!! And a chance to win her again' when anger built inside me and I grit my teeth looking elsewhere Karthik said

'Shika is no more a teen Rajveer!!! She is a grown up woman. She is a respected professor in a college. She knows what's best for her. She can decide for herself. If she wants to give you a chance, she will...'

'Tikki-' I was pissed when he said that.

'Shiku!!! Trust me!!! No one can force you into anything!!!' he said and I gulped my saliva as I grabbed his fist tightly and he wrapped his fingers around mine.

This felt nice. Peaceful. Karthik was like the piece of wood I was floating onto while everywhere there was thundering sea. It's like I could face everything with him. At this moment I didn't want anything...

No explanations given to the family...No Rajveer's apology...No confrontations and expectations...

I just wanted to hold onto him and go with the flow. Till he was by my side, I could manage everything.

'Go ahead Rajveer!!! Go accept your mistakes. Go shed your fake skin and show your true colors!!!' Karthik said and Rajveer simply nodded.

Rajveer was about to come inside the Khanna mansion when I was still skeptical about this plan. Dad was unwell, my family had a lot of misconceptions about Karthik and my relationship and now this...I was not having a good feeling about this.

Sehgals, Kapoors, Rajveer's father were all in the house. We were about to enter the house when Rony Daadu and Kisha Daadi along with Adi Jiju also came home along with us.

Suddenly it felt like a crowded place and a wierd fear kept bubbling inside my chest. Somehow it felt wrong. I didn't know why I was not getting the right vibes when Bela Daadi looked at us gasping

'Oh my god Shikha!!!' and suddenly everyone's eyes noticed us and they came running towards us. The ladies of the house were hugging me and trying to ask about my well being when Aahir said that

'I have spoken to Dr Mishra. Vansh Uncle should be shifted to the room by tomorrow. He is doing much better than expected ' when everyone was smiling and happy. That's when Neiv uncle spoke up

'Well atleast one good news!!! Two actually...our Shika is home' saying he widened his arms. I ran to him and hugged him warm. He is my father's best friend and Dev Daadu's son. But everyone's eyes kept scanning Karthik in a suspicious way and I cleared my throat saying

'Ummm..Meet him..this is Karthik....my-'

But before I could say anything Daadu completed the statement saying

'Vanshika's husband!!!'

And suddenly everyone in the house gasped so loud.

Shit!!!
How could I forget... before spilling the age old mess I need to clean up the freshly created one.

Damn it!!!