The Lost Prince

5. Desperation

Meera held her mother's hand while she pleaded within her tears. He mother was too shocked to her the reason of Meera's disturbance.

Thick silence enveloped them both and Meera waited in anticipation for her mother's help.

"Did you come here on your own, or he sent you?" Her mother's question made her breath hitch and Meera lowered her gaze. She could recall her rude conversation with Karan, which pushed him to sent her to her parents house. But she could not find the courage to confess the same.

"He told me to come back only after abortion." That was not the complete lie.

Her mother gulped and averted her eyes. She then patted Meera's head and got up to go.

"Maa?" Meera asked startled that her mother showed no support.

"I think, it is better to follow whatever your husband has to say, Meera."

"What are you saying?" Meera could not believe that her mother decided to turn away from her.

Her mother nodded and looked at her. Her gaze softened as she looked at her pained daughter. She gently cupped Meera face in her hands and kissed her forehead.
"I understand that it will hurt.. Not only physically, but emotionally too... But, Meera, the Shekhawat family is going through a lot lately. We do not want to add on to their burdens. Karan is really a good man. If he is not ready for this responsibility, maybe you should be a little understanding and give him some time. Think of him too, for once." with that, she left the room, leaving her daughter who broke down in fresh tears.

Her mother tried calling Viraj once again and the call was not connected. She looked out of the window and saw a car speeding away from the gates of the mansion.

A knock was heard and Viraj looked up at the door to see a maid expecting an acknowledgement.

"Princess Meera is here and wishes to see you." The maid whispered with bowed head.

Viraj sighed in frustration and nodded.
He did not expect his sister to show up in the faraway farmhouse. He did not know that she was already staying in Jaiswal mansion and was waiting for him to show up. He splashed his face with cold water and wiped it with a clean towel, before taking his fingers in his luxurious hair. He gingerly placed his hand on the railings of the grand staircase, as he descended the steps.

Meera was pulled in a warm hug and she broke down again in his arms. Even Viraj could not stop the weird sensation that broke his heart in million pieces.

Avantika heard the news of Meera's arrival and decided to step out to greet her. She halted at the top stair, upon seeing Viraj already there to receive his sister. She decided to give the siblings privacy and was about to leave, but what she heard shook her to the core.
Meera narrated the entire incident with Karan in her own version and asked Viraj to talk some sense to him.

Like his mother, Viraj too was taken aback. Like his mother, he too contemplated and advised Meera to respect Karan's wishes. He too was of opinion that Shekhawat family needed time to recover from the shock. It was inhumane to force Karan with another responsibility, when he clearly was not ready for it.

But Meera was not in a mood to listen to any explanation.

What she said next snatched away the floor beneath Avantika's feet.

"You have Avantika. Ask him to let me keep the baby and you will treat his sister just fine."

Avantika gasped lowly.

"Enough, Meera." Viraj roared.

Avantika was startled by his tone and clutched a handful of fabric of her kurta in fear.

"My wife is done playing bait for you. You and I both know what kind of man Karan is. He would not hurt anyone intentionally. Stop dragging my wife just to make other to dance to your tunes. This matter is purely decisive between a husband and a wife. Go sort it out yourself. I can't find a way to help you here."

Meera was taken aback and a lone tear escaped her eyes. She did not wait for anymore humiliation and turned to leave.

Viraj's heaved a deep breath and turned around to go back to his room, when he noticed his shocked wife standing at the top stair.
She had an unreadable expression on her face. But it was evident that she heard everything.

She abruptly turned around and closed the door of her room with a small thud.

Life was more complicated that one could think of.

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