Strings of Us

°*°*°*°*°*°*°
The morning light filtered through the grand windows of Shaurya's mansion, casting a golden glow over the marble floors.

Mehul stood quietly by the breakfast table, fiddling with the hem of his kurta, his gaze lingering on the cup of milkshake Shaurya had left for him before heading to his early meeting.

There was a sticky note beside it:

> "Tumhare bina ghar ka mood adhura lagta hai. Jaldi wapas aata hoon. -S"

A soft smile crept onto Mehul's face. He hugged the note to his chest for a second before carefully tucking it into his diary.

Just as he turned to head toward the kitchen, the sound of the main gate security buzzer echoed sharply.

He frowned.

The security staff usually never buzzed unless it was something important.

Curious and a bit unsure, he padded softly across the hall and answered through the intercom.

"Hello...?"

A gruff, familiar voice crackled through.

"Mehul... tu hi hai na? Main Sohan mama bol raha hoon. Darwaza khulwa, beta."

Mehul's blood ran cold.

"Mama...?" he whispered, hand trembling. His heart thundered in his ears.

The man whose eyes once held drunken disgust now stood outside this palace of peace.

Panicked, he stepped away from the speaker, his back hitting the wall behind. "Woh... kaise... kaise aa gaye yahan..."

Before he could think, his fingers dialed Shaurya's number. It rang once... twice...

Shaurya picked up, his voice laced with calm and command, "Mehul?"

"Mama aa gaye hain..." Mehul whispered, voice cracking. "Gate pe..."

There was a pause on the line. Then, firm and unwavering: "Main bas aa raha hoon. Kisi se baat mat karna. Darwaza mat kholna."

Mehul nodded even though Shaurya couldn't see. He curled up on the sofa, hugging his knees to his chest.

The calmness of the house had shattered into jagged shards of memory.

Within fifteen minutes, Shaurya's black Mercedes pulled into the driveway, tyres screeching softly.

He stepped out, jacket flaring with the wind, his face cold as steel.

Sohan mama stood at the gate, dressed in a dirty vest and lungi, carrying a plastic bag.

"Arre beta! Tum toh Mehul ka pati hai na?" he said with a greasy smile.

"Bas usi se milne aya hoon. Kuch baat karni thi..."

Shaurya's expression didn't change. "Tumse milne ki zarurat nahi hai. Wapas chale jao."

"Arey suno toh..." The man tried to put on a pitiful face.

"Ghar pe sab pareshan hain. Mehul toh bina bataye chala gaya..."

"Bina bataye nahi gaya. Main usse lekar aaya hu shaadi karke apni patni banakar," Shaurya said sharply. "Aur ab se uska koi lena dena tumse nahi."

Madan's face twisted. "Aise kaise? Woh hamara khoon hai. Tumhara kya lagta hai? Do din ki shaadi mein kuch bhi..."

That was the last straw.

Shaurya stepped forward, close enough for his towering presence to be threatening.

"Woh mera sab kuch hai. Aur tum jaise logon se main usse door rakhunga. Agar aaj ke baad tumne gate tak bhi kadam rakha na, toh Mumbai ki zameen tumhare liye chhoti pad jaayegi."

Sohan stumbled back.

Without another word, Shaurya turned, eyes blazing, and walked back into the building.

He found Mehul still curled up on the sofa. The moment their eyes met, Mehul ran into his arms without thinking.

Shaurya caught him tightly, holding his trembling frame.

"Chala gaya," Shaurya murmured. "Wapas nahi aayega."

Mehul didn't say anything. He just buried his face into Shaurya's chest, trying to calm the storm inside him.

Minutes passed in silence.

Finally, Mehul whispered, "Aap... gussa toh nahi hai mujh par?"

Shaurya leaned back just enough to cup Mehul's face. "Tum meri zimmedaari nahi ho, Mehul. Tum meri choice ho. Tum par gussa kyun honga?"

Tears slipped down Mehul's cheeks before he could stop them.

"I'm... sorry..."

"Don't be. Tumhare past ke liye tum zimmedaar nahi ho," Shaurya said softly, wiping his tears.

Their foreheads touched for a second-an intimate, grounding gesture.

That night, Mehul sat on the balcony, his diary open in front of him. The city lights blinked in the distance, but his mind was full of memories, both cruel and kind.

Shaurya walked in quietly, placing a warm cup of milk beside him. "Pehli baar likh rahe ho diary mein?"

Mehul smiled weakly. "Haan. Main soch raha hoon... pehli baar kisi ne meri raksha ki."

Shaurya sat beside him. "Aur main soch raha hoon, pehli baar mujhe kisi ki raksha karne ka mann kiya."

There was a pause.

Then Mehul whispered, "Kya aap mujhe kabhi chhod doge?"

Shaurya looked into his eyes, unwavering.

"Never. Kabhi nahi."

Mehul closed his eyes, breathing in that promise.

For the first time in his life, he felt safe.
.
.
.