You And I

Chapter 18

Meghna's fidgety fingers stopped enlacing themselves, only when she saw a truly mundane face. The guise that she saw on the the screen was not only recognizing but also hateful and vile.

Meghna averted her gaze to chew over Amey's reaction. His eyes were narrowed at the screen, with his face carrying loads and loads of bewilderment. He never pondered that his secretary would do that disgusting duty of stealing someone's work.

It was Mina, Amey's secretary.

"Amey..", it was a gasp that escaped Meghna's lips; with her eyes becoming filmy staying against the display of the computer. Amey, neared her and let his arms crawl around her shoulders to pacify her.

"Relax Meghna.", he gasped back. His eyes were still glued to the screen. It was the same secretary who'd just hawk seeing Amey, all the while. For some reasons, there had not been any decent wavelength between them from the beginning. But now.. Why did she do that?

Amey had to think now. He had to think hard, to perceive the reasons for this hatred.

"Is this all true!", It was a gasp again, that came out of Meghna's lips, in unfaith. Amey tightened his grip around her, and looked at her soothingly. He , himself couldn't bear this. This was actually a shock.

Seeing them in the stance, Mathews couldn't put up that. After all, Meghna was his close friend's daughter and Amey was her husband. How could he do that? Meghna was his daughter like. He gave a consoling pat on Amey's shoulders and looked at them.

"Uncle.. thank you so much., We got to know who it is.." Amey thanked Mathews. And Meghna coupled him,"Thanks Uncle!" Her voice was so broken.

Mathews came to Meghna and fondled her hair.

He looked at Amey firmly. "I can't see her like this Amey. We must do something to this girl who did this to Meghna....", Within Math could finish it off, Amey cut him in the middle,"Don't worry uncle.. action will be take against this lady for doing this to my Meghna.. To us..", he gritted his teeth in wrath. Meghna lifted her head from his shoulders, to look at him longingly. She was on the brink to break down. But she didn't want to do that. Her hands booted up to clean off her tears. She looked at Amey, sternly.

"Let's go to the police.", he avowed. Soon, he diverted his glance to check on her expressions. Her face screamed , that she was all inured in what did he just disclosed! "But before that we need an evidence to prove that the photographs are our's.. We need to think.." He heaved a sigh.

Evidence ! s**t!!

Meghna's hands flew up to clutch her forehead. She couldn't think of anything at the moment. It wasn't easy at all. What she already had in her mind was too much for that day. Too much to handle!

"Evidence.. ", an involuntary gasp escaped her lips as she stayed in the same stance. She didn't move an inch. Amey had to think, something. He couldn't see her like that. He put his hands on Meghna's back to rub her, and she wasn't chilling down. She felt like her head was pounding. It was horrible to go through!

Fifteen minutes into it, the idea hit Amey's brain. On deciding up what has to happen, he clutched Meghna's wrist tightly and handed her over to Mathews, and looked at her firmly.

He , then turned to Math.

"Uncle.. These people when they got the photographs from us, they had asked us to defer both the soft and hard copies. So, the coordinators must have the soft copy, in some means. You get the soft copies from them, and come to the police station, ASAP. I will go now and come to the police station, directly. This is the only way to prove.. But I am not sure about how much will it work.. ", he declared and handed over the car keys to Mathews. When they looked at him confusedly, he told them that he would hail a cab for him.

As Meghna, stood eying him with her hazy gaze, his hands flew up to cave in her face. "Don't worry. We'll do this." She nodded unenthusiastically.

"Amey, Are you sure ?",Mathews asked looking at Amey. Amey, gave him a stern nod and started to walk away. He, descended down the hotel and reached the road by walk and hailed a cab.

Through out the ride, he couldn't stop thinking the reasons for these photographs to be stolen by Mina. Will it be Aarav? But, it was him the photos must've been handed over to him? Why are they here? Why did she use her name to exhibit Meghna's photos? Why did she do that? He had no answers. There were no answers to any of his questions.

He had one more problem baiting him right now. Meghna, had gotten a doubt about Aarav and stuff. It is unimaginable for him to lie to her. He cannot do that. He cannot deceive her when she asks him looking at his blue eyes.

Fucking impossible!

As he had to foresee all those, his hands hurried up to dishevel his hair. He felt someone drumming in his head. The downright headache was slaying him to pieces right bow. For now, he thought of confabbing  this photographs issue. He got down the cab in front of their apartment, and stooped down. He strode in, and searched for Meghna's camera. Once he got hold of it, he locked the door, and traipsed out and on locking the door he sauntered off to cab again.

By the time, the cab came to a halt in front of city commissioner's office, Mathews and Meghna were already there.

Arjum slumped down from his cab, after paying it off he strode in. Only to see Mathews and Meghna wait there, he marched to them, and asked for the soft copies of the photographs.

Mathews nodded empathetically and relinquished a memory stick, to Amey. Holding the memory stick in his hands, and the camera in his other hand, he tramped towards to the chalet where the commissioner of police would be there. Stepping into the small room, Seeing Mathews and Amey, the police officer smiled at them warmly. After all, they were notable persons in public. They didn't need any introduction with the city police commissioner.

They were asked to take their seats. While they were enquired everything, Amey explained everything sincerely. And before the police could ask for evidences, he handed over the memory stick to him and mouthed,"These are the soft copies of the photos. These photos will have the EXIF data in them. The model number , exposure and the make of the camera, everything. Every damn detail about the camera in which the photos were taken. If the person had not stripped out the data, hopefully If Mina had not stripped out the data; it must definitely be there.." He disclosed as his hand darted to the camera bag.

"And here's the camera. You can check with the EXIF data on those photographs with the camera's. If it matches, then that's it. We own the photographs. Enough of this evidence?", Amey rumbled, hastily. He had no patience left. The police commissioner nodded courteously.

As the commissioner got hold of the memory stick and the camera, he nodded at them,"This evidence is more than enough, Mr. Amey. Let's just check, if it ensembles..."he declared and called one of his assistants and handed over the memory stick and the camera to check for the alikeness. Meghna was now contended that they have a gotten an evidence. This EXIF data resemblance was really a minor thing; though she had been quick and canny all the while through her life, today when she wanted to mediate on the stuff to find some real evidence, she couldn't. She was totally shut. She was wholly slammed, with no ideas seeming to glow in her head. Fortunately, Amey being wise, on realizing about this way; he disclosed it.

Three of them, sat quietly till the assistant returned to the officer's cabin saying that the EXIF data goes same with the camera's. As soon as they, declared it; Meghna handed over the video of Mina handing over the photographs to the coordinator.

The police officer, took hold of everything and looked at Amey and Mathews firmly, "Don't worry, Mr. Amey. You've handed over the evidences, and we even know who'd done. We'll work on it, and let you know as soon as possible."

Amey, could breathe only now. He was actually afraid of the EXIF data being stripped out. But in the nick of the time, it was there. On leaving out a grateful smile to the police officer, three of them got up. And Mathews stuck out his palm at the police,"Thank you so much sir."

"You're always welcome Mr. Mathews. Anyway, it is our duty to do all these." As the police replied them, Amey along with Meghna and Mathews, left the place. As they walked out of the commissioner's office, Amey told Math that they would drop him off.

As told, they dropped Mathews at his home. They denied when he invited them in. He apprehended that they were worn out already. Meghna's face had reddened. She didn't sob so much, as she had done before. But still, her nose and cheeks were reddened. As Amey handled the car, Meghna was sitting back quietly. There were no words.

When Amey, looked at her leering, he could almost contemplate that she wasn't accustomed. On letting out a sigh, he placed his palm on her lap,"You want something to eat?"

Meghna's stare that was frozen outside the window, aimless had now come rolling to meet Amey's. He was definitely hiding something!

"No. Let's go home.", she replied in a surly manner. Amey knew that he was in predicament right now. He had to refrain Meghna from finding out things. He really had to. He nodded curtly, at her and started accelerating the car. As soon as they reached their apartment, Meghna went in and changed into her night clothes. It was already early black!

As Amey, plugged in his phone to the charger; he placed it on the table and walked in to their room. On picking up his clothes, he said Meghna that he was going in for a shower. She nodded her head plainly. Whilst, Amey was in the shower; Meghna was at the beanbag, sitting strayed. She was all befuddled. Why should Amey lie to her? Why was he hiding something from her? She couldn't sort it out. But she wanted to. Something around her told her that, it wasn't everything right with Amey. It was unpredictable. And wait! Its been more than a week, since she asked for him to stay with her and now he had not gone to office, even after the one week. Even though, he had not been a workaholic like her father, he had been sincere in what he did. But now?

So, what does it imply?

She couldn't think of more. The arising number of questions started tormenting her pretty, little brain. She could easily feel her head getting heated up due to overthinking. She wanted to stop doing the overthinking thing. It was so annoying. She couldn't bear all those maiming thoughts let her impale with a headache. She didn't want to get mangled with a stupid headache, right now. But f**k, her brain wasn't obeying her. Every cell in her brain started to eat her up, wholly. The thinking was just hunting her down. Her hands, volunteered to clasp her head, tightly. Her head had now started pounding, wild exhibiting it's malodorous tricks on her.

In sometime, when she heard Amey stepping out of the room, she released her head and deflected her gaze to meet him.

Amey stopped at the table to get hold of his phone and his gaze floated through and reached, Meghna. She looked disorganized, metaphysically. He moved towards her, and gaped at her to study her face. Meghna, stood up and dangled on him, establishing her walloping head on him, wrapping her hands around his torso. He swaddled her up, in his arms and let her assuage herself. He did nothing, yet she felt relieved and calm.

"We will get the photographs...", Meghna gasped, her eyes wide open with festered tears. "We will get soon..", Amey sighed.

"Why did Mina do this to us, Amey?", she asked with her gaze searching for something that never existed. She could now feel Amey heave a sigh, with the realization of his chest puffing down from an enlargement said it all. It meant all that he had no idea about what she asked.

"I have no idea, Meghna..", he muttered.

Meghna hoisted her head from him, and endorsed her pathetic gaze blend with his toiling eyes. Not trying to exert herself, without moving an inch from his eyes; Meghna gasped,"You're struggling!!"

Amey, nerved. His gaze automatically went shifting to the void space, abaft Meghna. He couldn't do this.

"What?", His hoarse seared her.

"You're struggling to hide something from me... You're hiding something..", she sounded piteous and feeble. This deplorable state of her's was worsening the situation. Seeing her like that, was like being tormented in the hell.

"No Meghna!", Amey snapped at her. He wasn't looking at her, straight. Or not even lopsided. Damn, he wasn't looking at her and with that she sized up that he, definitely was hiding something.

He stood speechless.

She sank rearward and gaped at him, directly.

Into his blue eyes!

"Amey! What's with Aarav? What happened? I am doubtless that you've done something and trying to hide it from me.. Tell me.. I want to know.."

"...Nothing like that, Meghna! Or at least nothing big. Forget it-"

"Nothing big? Okay, tell me however small it might be, I want to know.." She had started raising her voice by now. She wanted to know.

He stood calm, quiet and motionless; with his fists balled up in fury that was flaming bright in him.

Meghna let all the puff of the air, out and gape at him still. He looked enraged, with his brows furrowed and fists curled up. She swayed forward and cupped his face, devotedly.

"Amey.. I know there's something that was going on between you and Aarav.. Only to put an end to it all, he asked for the photographs. You denied and I didn't give.. At last , when you came to NewYork, you told me not to talk about him.. And finally, we are together like nothing ever happened.. What happened in between?" She asked effusively, with an unnamed emotion brimming over her eyes. She nibbled her lower lip, in order to bridle the tear drops. She didn't want to spill tears, at the moment.

There was no comeback from him. Amey's quietude made her un obstruct the tears leading to the trail of tears washing her face down. She didn't want to do that. She didn't want to cry, like a broken schoolgirl. Amey, remained silent; witnessing the tears that was flowing down her cheeks.

Her hands booted up to wipe her tears off. On moving her gaze to somewhere apart from his strangling gaze, she mumbled,"Don't make me cry, Amey. I don't want to shed tears..", narrowing her brows. Amey, like he apprehended something moved his gaze to her. She was truly depressed with a confusion etched all over her beautiful face. He felt it cruel, to having her go swallow all that. What he had felt for her till today, was something that he could never forget in billion years. He had always wanted to see her happy, smiling! But now, being in a stance of being the one and only reason for her tears once again, made him go down and out.

His face struggled to refrain the pain, he moved his hands to hold her face and wipe her tears.

"Don't cry , Meghna..", his broken voice fell in.

"I can't see you broken, Amey!", that was the breaking point, and she had started to wail, already. Her fists were tightly pawed , clutching his shirt; accusing him. Amey proffered to hold her by head, to soothe her wails. Being incapacitated to scuffle his feverish touches; she wriggled out. "Don't touch me... Don't make me weak..", she wailed coming out of his arms. A knot of confusion alloyed with depression ligatured to Amey's face.

On cleaning off the tears, and on sniffing her nose out of block, Meghna talked,"Tell me Amey." His fluctuated gaze, perched on her steadily. "Something cryptic! I had asked you to stay with me for a week, and it's been couple of weeks since we came and you didn't still go to the office.. You didn't even talk officially to anyone... What does it mean?"

"Nothing!"

"Oh, yeah! Nothing! That's the only reply that would slip out of your tongue.. Nothing!", she gritted her teeth, and whimpered. He stood deadlocked. Meghna altered to his right side, and shook his arm. "What did Aarav tell to you? What happened between both of you while I was in NY?"

"You don't have to know all that!", his rugged , rude voice made the scene. Meghna gulped.

She was now determined. Determined to bring out everything from him.

"What did you give him to make him stay out of our lives?", Meghna snarled. He wasn't responding at all.

The audacity of this man!

She took in a deep breath, and let it out roughly. "Alright! I am calling Krish...", her hands moved to the phone to get a hold on her mobile within which Amey's strong arms held her arms, and pushed it aside.

"You're not calling anyone!", he gritted his teeth, with his bloodshot eyes threatening her, badly. Megnna, squared her shoulders, and proceeded to take her hands to the phone, yelping,"You're leaving me with no choice.."

The next split second, Amey stiffened more and clutched her arms and shoved her to the wall. She was now pinned against the wall, with his tight grip making it sore all over her arms, and his bright red eyes, that had showed only love and concern; coloring in angst. This sudden, wild act made Meghna flinch. Her eyes had started dripping, already.

All again!

"You want to know what happened? Isn't it? He demanded everything.. And I gave it to him.. That's all.. Enough?", he roared heedlessly. The roar was loud enough and macho enough to make her startle and stream down the tears, anon.

"You gave everything ?", Meghna gasped, looking at him intently, with her hazy vision; making it more crucial to look at him. Amey, turned aside vigorously; leaving the hold on her hand. His hands were now up, torturing his hair; messing it up wildly.

What has he done! He just blustered up everything in restiveness!!

Holy cow!

Meghna disjointed her back from the wall, and stepped forward to meet Amey. His eyes were moving rashly, against the floor surface.

"You gave up on everything ?", She probed, with a moistured, incisive gaze. And he was not looking at that incisive, gaze which would make him step up further. He didn't act in response.

"Answer me Amey. Did you just give up on everything for me?", She yelled, making his shoulders tremor, by sticking her palms to them. He stood statued!

Meghna was now boiling in anger. What was he thinking of himself? How on the earth could he do this? Just for the sake of her!

"What do you think of yourself? A cinema hero-" Within she could complete yelling at him, Amey was infuriated further.

"THIS IS NOT ANY f*****g CINEMA! IT'S MY LIFE AND THAT'S YOU.. YOU GET THAT!", he shouted, with his face inches away from her. She jittered, being the reason for facing his wrath. On gulping off the air lumps, that seemed like a ton, stumbling upon her throat; she gave in her voice.

"Months ago, I was about to do the same. And you didn't want me to do that for the sake of you. If I can't do something for my love, then you, yourself are not supposed to do this, for the same goddamn sake of me!!", she wailed. By now, she was totally a holy mess. Amey softened. What Meghna put forth was right. He was the one, who didn't want her to give up on her photographs, on that day. And he had done the same thing with all of what he had.

He , now had to convince her.

Amey, let out a tiring sigh. He walked to her, and turned her to his side by getting hold her shoulders. She didn't leave off, soon. Instead, she got rid of his hands, and turned aside with the water works making the scene on her face. She was truly angry, on him for having done that. He had given up on every single paisa that he had. It was all his. His hard work. Amey, had an important duty of explaining things now. Otherwise, this could grow worser. He didn't want that to happen.

With his face lingering down in the guilt of abandoning her for a whole of two months, he cleared his throat. He was trying to be calm and patient,"I will tell you everything... Only when I stood there before Aarav, with he demanding things to me; implying you; I got to understand that position you were in, that day. I felt it. I felt lifelessness in his words. That moment the realization hit me. A hard realization that it wasn't your mistake. Nothing was your mistake.. It all mine and it is all me.."

Meghna was looking at him, poignantly. As he closed his eyes, inhaled sharply, he continued,"I didn't know, Meghna.. I didn't know.. Nothing seemed painful than the pain of losing you.. It all was starting to destroy me to pieces. I can't even analyze if it was all truth or not.. I felt what you felt!"

Meghna had appeased now. And all it remained was tears. She neared him, and held his wrist.

"Amey.. I get that.. But you've given up all. Everything! Every damn thing!!"

"I don't really care, Meghna.. I don't really care on giving up everything.. I have you! That's what I want the most.. ", he gasped. He was not looking at her still. Meghna's eyes were sincere in letting out the water drops. She couldn't sway strings over the streams of water that was rushing down. He had frigging lost everything the sake of her!

"Do I even deserve you?", she gasped, with her eyes narrowed, looking somewhere else. And this alarmed Amey. He tended to hold her by neck, making her melt into a puddle.

And this was one thing that could make her remember her worth. His touch would just make her realize how much she is worthy of. Would any other man find so much of worthiness in his girl? He did! Even when she strongly believed that she was nothing, only under his gaze and under his hold; she would feel worthy of herself.

"You don't know how worthy you are! You deserve this and much more.. Anything and everything in this world..", he gasped looking at her straightly. And with the gaze that he just pegged at her, she felt so womanly and worthy. Oh yeah, both are same!

Making her quiver in surprise, and making her feel otherworldly, Amey's deep, big, blue orbs that had slightly watered continued making her get the idea of how much she means to him. Her black eyes, staring back at him sincerely, drinking in the feel of all the emotions that he was trying to let her know.

"You fascinated me... I wanted to share my life with you.. We did.. You continued fascinating me.. I fell for you.. You did crazy things.. I fell harder.. There were no ways to escape the fall that I'd fallen for you.. You're something.. Something precious, joyous, dreamy...", he recited everything, gasping; having his stare rooted on her eyes. Meghna, felt more worthy of her because of this man, holding her. And the he held her proudly, screamed it all.

"I fell in love in the way that no one would ever have.. Deeply, wholly, solely!", that was his last gasp before his lips fell on her's. They kissed.

With one of his hands, holding her by neck, slenderly like no one could ever complain about it, his other hand sliding down to her waist, and on snaking it around her, cravingly, he pulled her closer to make the kiss grow passionate. Meghna's eyes had shut the split second, she felt his lips on her's. Regularly, his kiss would just provide her with a surge of some untamed emotions gliding through her body and soul, making her feel foreign. Literally, during every kiss. This time, it was too much. They felt like it was growing intense. They had never kissed like this, before.

Like ,life or death!

The continued kissing , devotedly. The emotional, poetic kiss had now progressed into an intense, earth-shaking ,libidinous kiss that flickered a fire of desire in both of them. Wantonness, took its sovereignty! He wanted her. Like, now!!

On the verge of not being able to deny or refuse the desire and longing, he groaned between the kiss,"I want you, Meghna!!!"

He leaned in, with his eyes brimming in love and passion. Being influenced by his kiss and his touches, and most importantly by his love, she bowed out."Take me, Amey." They broke their kiss, and his eyes gaped at her, gleaming due to the craving. All she could see was a meaningful lust and passion. Having it all over what he asked for, and how She relinquished, he took her that night.

With what Amey did, Meghna was enlightened about what it was for him to love her. Every time, when he had tried to make her become acquainted with her worth, he failed. But today, it was a different story.

Meghna never realized when did she sleep, after an ardent, romantic night, they shared. When she woke up from her sleep, Amey was nowhere found near by her. She rolled out to the other side to check on the time. It was 3.00 AM. She climbed down the bed, and slipped into a baggy shirt and a pair of boxers. Only to see the balcony, half lit; that was actively exhibiting his silhouette, she discerned that Amey was there. He was standing there, holding his hip by one hand; and the other hand disheveling his hair.

He was not conscious of Meghna entering the porch. He looked like he was thoroughly preoccupied. She moved in stealthily, and let her arms enfetter his torso, from behind. She leaned in and pressed against him, and breathed. Amey, on apprehending that she had waken up curtly, turned his face sidewards to hear her talk.

"Why are you not sleeping?" Meghna questioned, still leaning in and soldering to him. He half-smiled, and threw his hands up in air, to reach her head and smoothed her head down. "I was not feeling sleepy."

Meghna, wheezed out heavily and unlinked her arms from him and moved to his side. He was looking at the empty street!

Her hands flew to his arms, and she voiced turning him towards her slightly,"Look at your Meghna, Amey." And he did so.

He looked at her, spellbindingly. Meghna, stood enticed by the way those two big, blue eyes gaped at her. On giving up on those well-felt emotions and on bringing up some courage, her lips moved."Didn't you regret your act of giving up everything just for me?"

His featured stiffened for a second. His haze turned sincere. "No!", he replied. Meghna's eyes watered, being unable to take this all of the love that he showed her. "Not even once?", she asked piteously. Amey, heaved out a heavy sigh. He completely turned to her, and brought up his hands to her face. His long fingers slicked and tucked a few fringes of hair, beside her hair and breathed,"I'd never regretted and I would never. Never ever." He straightened out.

Meghna seemed to come apart at the seems. He made her go deranged and bugged out, with his words.

"What are we going to do now? We lost everything..", she whimpered leaning on to him. It was actually ought be a happy occasion but sadly, Meghna wasn't happy with what Amey had done. She felt proud and overwhelming. But practically, when she had to think of his parents and everyone, she felt so bad.

"I don't really care, until I have you..", he muttered, what he really felt. And Meghna was all on tears again. With her head tombing on to his chest, and her hands linked around his torso, she mumbled ,"Why do you love me so much!!"

He nodded his head in negative slowly, he lowered his head and provided a sanctuary to her head, he muttered,"I don't think I have an answer!"

That's when she understood, what did his love really mean. Or what does she mean to him. She smiled against his chest, with tears drops sticking to his tee shirt, she whimpered,"I wish we could never find an answer." Amey's lips stretched out neatly, as he tightened his grip around her, he chuckled. "Let's not find an answer, If you would never want to."

Being bound against his chest, within his arms; she craned her head up to look at his dreamy eyes. She moved to tip of her toes, to give him a peck on his lips. He smiled at her act, and carried her to bed. With that, they slept composedly.

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