41. The Article

No I am not dead yet (luckily). My exams are approaching and it's hard to write between hectic days with assignments and studies. The updates will be slow till 18-Oct-2023.

I wrote this update between my breaks so ignore the mistakes, will edit them once the book ends. Thanks for understanding and showering your love!!!

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Mahi's POV:

My phone buzzed continuously until it finally made me groan in frustration, "Who the hell has a death wish early in the morning!"

I lifted my hand and searched for my phone with my half sleepy eyes. The phone continued to ring and I cursed the person under my breath.

Finally my hand found my phone, I adjusted my eyes to the screen and Rishi's name popped up.

"Do you really want to die early in the morning?" I yelled as soon as I swiped the green button on the screen. I don't know when I came back home or how Kabir got me here. I was hella tired last night.

"You saw the article?" I expected a lame remark but his voice came out more serious than it usually is.

"What article?" I asked, getting up from the bed. The atmosphere suddenly felt uneasy. Nothing came from the other side for the next one minute and it only increased the tension building up in the back of my head.

"The article about Kabir and you all." He finally spoke after letting out a deep sigh. My mind started interrogating and thousands of questions popped up.

A long pause followed before he again started, "Just look at it... and Mahi don't immediately jump to conclusions. Think before you do anything." He hung up even before I could say anything.

He has never been this serious. I immediately opened the link he shared and started reading the article.

The famous Bollywood celebrity and the most desired bachelor of the nation is dating?

Kabir Mehra was seen with three different women. Who is he actually dating?

The famous Bollywood's playboy is back in the game?

Kabir Mehra has always been surrounded by rumors ever since his career gained progress. He has been seen with a lot of women from every field in high society.

He never spoke anything about his relationships to the public. Since the news of his upcoming movie came out, he was often seen with the lead actress of his movie, Shreya Mishra.

Their fans were eagerly waiting for the news of their dating and the rumors came that they are in a relationship but again none of them said anything about this.

The photos from their dinner went viral but were immediately taken down. Things don't end here, a few more photos went viral early this morning today.

Kabir Mehra was captured sharing some intimate moments with three different women.

These women are, the famous bollywood actress Shreya Mishra, Award winning Fashion designer Tanya Malhotra and Mahi Deshmukh, daughter of the famous businessman Jay Deshmukh.

Shreya Mishra is his co-worker while it is said that Tanya Malhotra and Kabir Mehra are childhood friends, also rumored ex-lovers. The Deshmukhs are family friends of Mehras. Mahi Deshmukh is also an artist working under his talent agency.

It took me a few more minutes to digest whatever I just read but when I looked at the photos, my body froze. As if an unseen force captured my body and it was not allowing me to move or to even breathe properly.

My hands trembled and a huge lump started to form in my throat. The first photo showed Kabir holding Shreya in a bridal style, their faces just an inch apart.

The second photo showed Kabir holding Tanya in his arms near a pool. The background and surroundings looked familiar and just then I realized it's the resort from Kerala where we all stayed.

I tried to swallow the lump but it only grew big and it felt like choking me. I looked at the third photo and it was us kissing in the garden. Someone took it last night. My mind went blank, nothing came into it.

My gaze again went back to screen and I read further even though everything in me said to throw the phone away but I still scrolled down.

Kabir Mehra is widely known as the playboy of bollywood. Many people troll him for that but at the same time he is also one of most desirable bachelors in bollywood.

This is the first time that his intimate moments with different women have been seen by the public. The photos are creating a huge buzz in the whole b-town.

Everyone wants to know Who is the actual girlfriend? Who is going to get the famous Kabir Mehra? Or is it all his games?

A game? "No this is not true. None of this nonsense is true, Mahi." I said to assure myself but it didn't feel like working. The uneasiness only increased and I forced myself toward the bathroom.

I turned on the tap and splashed the water on my face continuously until I felt breathless. I tried to take deep breaths to calm myself down. Some faint voices were heard from downstairs.

"Who is being so loud early in the morning?" I wiped my face and came out of the bathroom. The voices only increased so I took long steps and moved out of my room.

I descended the stairs and saw mom, dad in the living room along with Aparna aunty.

"Aparna I sent my daughter to your house because I believed no one else would be able to take care of her as much as you would do but what the hell your son is doing with my daughter?" Dad's voice was filled with anger and disappointment.

"He is all over the news with different women and my daughter is also dragged. She just started her career, this will ruin it even before it starts properly! This is affecting my business as well! What do you think it is?" He was losing his temper but this has nothing to do with Aparna aunty.

And after all this all he still cares is about his damn business! What else I could expect from The Jay Deshmukh. I increased my pace and walked toward them. Dad stopped as his gaze found me.

Aparna aunty looked back at me and my mom did the same. My gaze again moved to my dad, "Look who is here, it's rare for you dad to meet your daughter so often." I mocked with my hands crossed over my chest.

"Of course you would be here after all the news must be messing with your image and the business right?" What else could be the reason for him being here.

"We are here to take you back." He stated, ignoring my previous statements.

"What? Who do you think you are huh? You decide where I will study, you decide what I will study, you decide where I will live. You decide with whom I will live and you decide when I leave! What am I to you? What do you think of me?" I lost every ounce of patience I had in me.

The anger bubbled up and the reasons were obvious, him being selfish like always and that damn article. Those damn photos!

"Jab mann chahe tab mujhe keh dete yeh kar vo kar or jab mann chahe tab keh dete hai ab ye nahi kar sakti tum, ab yahan nahi reh sakti tum. Kya hu me aap dono ke liye? Aap mujhe apni beti samajhte hai ya koi khilona hu me apke liye?" The anger started getting mixed with the pain and tears burned my eyes.

(You say do this, do that whenever you feel like and you say don't do this, you can't live here now whenever you feel like. What am I to you both? Do you even think of me as your daughter or am I just a toy to you?)

"Your business is so important to you. Even now all you care about that and not about what your daughter is going through. You don't understand what I am going through do you?" Tears fell as I spoke.

"Shh calm down baccha please we know you are hurting. We know, that's why we are here to take you back with us." Mom came closer and tried to grab my hand but I pulled it back.

"You know nothing mom, Nothing! I love Kabir! Do you get that? I love him!" I admitted. There is nothing to hide. I love him with everything I have in me.

"And I am not believing any shit they show in news and articles about him. I believe him over everyone else. I know how he actually is. He is everything I can ask for and It's always going to be him for me and just him." There are no second thoughts about it.

"What about him, Mahi? Does he love you as much as you do?" Dad asked with tensed brows and mocking eyes.

"There is not a single doubt about it." Kabir's voice echoed in the living room and I looked over dad's shoulder. He walked toward us and stood beside dad.

"I love her more than anything else and there is no doubt about it." He held my hand in front of everyone.

"What about the news and those pictures, what do they mean?" Mom asked, looking at our intertwined hands.

"Nothing in them is as they are portrayed, except one thing-" He paused and looked at me, "Except us. We both are the truth and the world will soon know that truth." His voice held promise and his eyes the sincerity of his love.

"They already created a big mess of your image. How are you going to clear it? And you should not forget my daughter is also involved." Dad spoke, making both of us look back at him.

"Do not worry Mr. Deshmukh, Mahi is my priority and I won't let the one who hurt her off easily. About clearing the mess, I have my own ways." Kabir said with confidence and calmness.

"I can't trust that until I see it with my own eyes. Also I can't let Mahi stay here from now on." His voice was serious and if he said he won't let me stay here then I know he won't.

"Then you should be ready for tomorrow's press conference Mr. Deshmukh. I am sure that will be more than enough for me to prove myself and my sincerity toward your daughter." Dad's expression changed, He seemed impressed but of course he won't admit it.

"You might dislike us or even hate us but at the end of the day we are your parents and all I want is to see you happy. I might have been a very bad or worse father in the past years but I won't tolerate anyone hurting you." He came closer and cupped both of my cheeks.

"I am sorry Mahi, I really am. I never knew my absence would hurt you so much. I was so busy with everything that I forgot my princess. The little girl without whom I wouldn't even go a day."

"I know I did wrong but I won't let anyone hurt my little girl. We will be here with you, I promise I won't leave this time." His voice was low and apologetic but I was still processing his words.

He really meant them? Can I trust him? It's hard after all these years.

"You are Aparna's son. I trust her upbringing, but it will be too soon for me to agree for both of you. We will talk about this once this all is cleared." He looked at Kabir and moved back a few steps.

"Now you can let go of my daughter's hand, young man. We need to leave before the media creates a crowd in front of your house." Dad said looking at our hands but Kabir only smiled.

"It's only the matter of time when you give her hand to me yourself Mr. Deshmukh." He passed my hand to Dad. He tried his best to hide his smile in front of Kabir.

"I am sorry Aparna I lost my temper and thank you so much for taking care of my daughter for the past few months." Dad lightly hugged Aparna aunty and she passed her bright smile.

"She is just like my own daughter Jay." She patted his shoulder and proceeded to hug mom.

"Thanks Aparna, this really means a lot." Mom said and kept her hand on Aparna aunty's hand.

I went and pulled aunty into a tight hug. She is the perfect example of a mother. "Take care of yourself aunty." I slowly pulled back and she nodded with a smile. I know leaving this house now is the right decision but I will miss her the most.

"We will be leaving now." Dad again held my hand and we moved toward the exit. Kabir and Aparna aunty followed.

"Wait a minute, dad." He stopped and looked back at me. "I need 5 minutes with Kabir.... Alone." objection raised in his eyes but he didn't say anything.

"We will be waiting outside, do come fast." Mom said and left along with Aparna aunty and dad.

He stood there looking at my face and I moved a little closer to him. "Can you hold me in your arms just for a minute?" I asked not looking in his eyes.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to him. My head rested on his chest and his hand lightly stroked my hair, soothingly. "Forever, I can hold you forever if you want. That's where you belong to."

"I will explain those pictures. You need to trust me Mahi that is all I need right now" He rested his chin over my head.

"I trust you more than myself. More than anyone else here." I nuzzled my face in his chest, seeking comfort in his warm body.

My grip tightened on the back of his shirt and in return he gave my body an assuring squeeze. "I will miss you Kabir." I couldn't control but sob in his arms.

"Do you think I won't miss you? Only I know how I am letting you go right now. My heart is screaming to hide you somewhere away from everyone. Only I know how I am handling myself. I don't want you to go away from me at all but this is right. Your dad is right, you have to leave but only to come back to me." He pulled back and looked at my messy face.

"Pushpa I hate tears." I looked at his face for a minute and then we both ended up laughing.

"That's how I like my dolphin okay! Take care of my Mahi when I am not around or else be ready for the punishment." He tried to sound serious but I ended up laughing more.

"I am serious. Take care of yourself and do not cry at all if you don't want to be punished." His voice was drop dead serious now which stopped me from laughing.

"Don't miss me much, I will see you tomorrow." He pecked my lips and held my hand. "Let's go, I don't want to upset my future in-laws." I shook my head at his words and we moved out of his house.

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Hey guys so this is the next chapter! I hope you all liked it!!!

What do you think Kabir will do now? A press conference seems like_____?

Guys she is leaving now :(

To unlock next chapter this one needs 700 votes.

Will see you all soon till then don't forget to smile ;)

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