Chapter 50
I should have left Khushi a message, but how could I have guessed that Di would drag me back to the airport right after dinner. ‘I will go alone to the Airport’ she says as if I was going to let her do that at this hour.” Taking a peek at the time once more he signed deeply in disappointment. “Damn it!”
-------------------------------------------
Dinner, long done, Khushi impatiently rolled on the bed waiting for his call. Checking the phone for the umpteenth time she pondered, “It’s almost 10:00. Why is it taking him this long? Hope everything is fine.” Sliding it back down she sighed, tired of waiting when she heard a beep. Sitting straight, in a flash she picked up the phone elated and diverting her total attention to that slim device, read the message - “Sorry, Khushi. I am with Di at the airport to receive Jijaji. Don’t know when I will be free. You go to bed. I will call you tomorrow. You did not get good sleep even yesterday. Good night.” The smile on her face now vanished, pouting like a child she crashed back on the bed. Failing to catch a wink she tossed and turned for quite a while before sleep from the previous night caught up to her, dragging her into a deep slumber.
--------------------------------
Constant buzzing disturbing her, Khushi woke up startled and searched around for the source absentmindedly. Her gaze falling on the bright light, squinting, she noted the time and the name flashing on the screen. Suddenly completely awake she instantly lifted the call and questioned in a panic, “Arnavji!? Are you ok? Is everything ok?”
“Khushi! You picked up.”, he exclaimed both surprised and happy. “Were you sleeping? Sorry for waking you up in the middle of the night. I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to share the news with you ASAP.”, he spoke in a rush without pauses.
“No problem. And Arnavji, you know you are speaking like me right now.”, she giggled and then inquired, “What news?”
“Wait, let me do a video call. I want to see you.”
With the screen now in front of his face, he looked at her lovingly and proclaimed, “Khushi! I am going to be Maama.”
“What!?”, she uttered, her mind still half asleep not working at its full potential.
“Oh Khushi! Di is pregnant. She called us all home as she wanted to share the news with all of us at the same time and in person. You have no idea how happy I am for them. Di was trying to conceive for quite a while but unfortunately, no treatment worked. She almost lost all hope. You know, she dragged me to Tirumala to pray for this saying only God can help her. I even got worried that she was turning crazy.”, he emphasized, chuckling at the thought.
Watching his delight, her lips curled into a wide smile, and sweetly answered, “Well, God did grant her wish. Don’t you agree?” though she is fully aware he is not the type to give credit to God. And he responded just as she expected.
“Oh! Come on, Khushi. Not you too. All the ladies were giving credit to that temple and God. Like seriously, you all are educated and believe in such nonsense. She would have gotten pregnant anyway. It was a coincidence that it happened after visiting the temple.”, he condemned.
“It might look like nonsense to you but for those who believe, it is called a miracle. Everyone has their perspective, Arnavji. If by praying people can stay hopeful then what is wrong in doing that? Hope is a very strong thing, it can help you find peace and bring you happiness even in chaos. Believing in God has nothing to do with being educated or uneducated. Like I told you before it is all about acknowledging that there is a power above you, beyond your understanding, reach, and control. Anyway, leave it. You won’t understand. But maybe someday you will.” she concluded, giving up.
“Unbelievable! You are right, I don’t get it. And trust me, that day will never come. I write my own destiny. There is nothing you can’t do if you set your mind to it. I believe in that power.”, he bluntly stated.
“Well, there are things that are not in your control, things that can’t be achieved by just conviction. But let us leave it.”, she softly ended not interested in dragging the topic when he is so happy.
“If you ask me, I would give the credit to you. Yesterday you came to me and today I got this good news. You are my lucky charm, Khushi.”, he teased with a smirk. As she silently blushed, he added, “Ahh! there it is. Your red face. Now, don’t turn too red or your face will resemble a tomato.”
“What? No. I didn’t turn red.”, she shot back pretending to be annoyed.
“I know you very well, Khushi. And I can clearly see your red cheeks even in this dim light.”, he replied, making her cheeks more flushed. Engrossed in each other they lost track of time and continued talking as the night passed by them slowly.
-------------------------------------
Khushi woke up a little later than usual the next morning. It was almost 10:00 when she heard the knock on the door. Even though the door was closed she knew who it was.
Adjusting and preparing herself, just as she opened the door Shyam barged into her room speaking sarcastically, “What are you doing in your room? Are 3 days of isolation not enough? Maybe you need more as you seem to be enjoying sitting alone.” Closing in on her as he spoke, he noticed her take a step back due to the proximity. Her actions offending him, he viciously said, “You dare move away from me again? If it was not for dad I would have shown you your place long back. But no problem, that day is not far when you will come to me.”
Frowning at his last remark, Khushi stared at him confused when with an evil smirk he bitterly sneered, “What is with that look? You will soon be my wife and then you will have no choice but to come to me.” With that, taking her phone from his pocket he mocked, “Here is your phone. But do you really need it? I mean, you don’t have anyone to call anyway. Oh yeah! Except for that sexy friend of yours, Lavanya.”
Khushi was used to his taunts, so she didn’t let that affect her but she is not ready to hear anything about her best friend. “Don’t you dare talk about her.”, she immediately rebuked.
“Oho! Are you jealous now?”, he said as he raised his hand to cup her face.
Swiftly moving away from his reach, she walked out of the room, far from him.
---------------------------------
Sitting all alone at the dining table Khushi completed her lunch as she reminisced about her lunch with him from yesterday. It was half-past 1 and she still failed to find a chance to call him. If she locked her room during the day then it would look very suspicious as she never did that or to be precise, she was never allowed to have any privacy except at night. Sighing heavily she murmured under her breath, “I miss you, Arnavji” as she absentmindedly walked into the kitchen with the empty plate.
“Oh, God! What happened to your neck?”, she heard Maharajji exclaim. Snapping out of her reverie she noticed him pointing out towards her neck while continuing, “Did some bug bite you? Or are you having an allergic reaction to something?....” While he went on and on she looked into the mirror confused as to what the whole commotion was about. Her eyes instantly caught sight of the red spot which was still prominently visible on her milky white skin, she understood what was happening. Her face turning pink, she swiftly pulled the dupatta over her neck and spoke in a hurry, “It’s… it’s nothing. I am fine.”
“But it looks bad. Are…”
Before he could complete, taking huge strides Khushi left the kitchen saying, “I am fine, Maharajji. I am going into my room.”
Entering her room she rushed into the restroom and stood before the mirror completely flushed, her eyes glued on the mark. Replaying the actions of the person responsible for it she smiled profoundly whispering, “Arnavji!” as her hand gently caressed it. Out of nowhere, an idea struck her. Excitedly stepping out, she quickly pulled out the drawer while making sure there was no one around and grabbing the cell phone landed back in the restroom. “Why didn’t I think about this earlier? Maybe talking to him is difficult but I can chat with him from here.”, she mumbled smiling wide. And the second she switched on the phone, so many messages dinged one after the other bombarding the screen. Surprised, she curiously scrolled through them.
“Good Morning, Beautiful! Did you sleep well?” 8:00 am
“Are you still sleeping?” 9:30 am
“I know you slept late last night but isn’t it too late for you to be still sleeping? ” 10:00 am
“Khushi! Where are you? I am warning you, don’t test my patience.” 10:30 am
“If it is some kind of a joke then let me tell you it sucks. Khushi! Reply. NOW!” 11:15 am
“That’s it. I am not waiting for you. I am not going to send you any more messages. Bye!” 12:00 pm
“Khushi! I am worried now. Are you ok? Is everything ok? If I don’t hear from you in the next hour, I am going to ring your phone. No. I will actually have Aman ring your doorbell .” 1:00 pm
“Hey, Devi Maiya! I should have left at least one quick message earlier. I am such an idiot.” she cursed herself and promptly typed, “I am truly SORRY. I am fine. Everything here is fine. Don’t be mad.”
Pressing send, she eagerly waited for a reply sitting on the edge of the tub and tapping her leg nervously. As she watched the second needle on the clock complete one minute after the other, 5 minutes turning to 10, her endurance started to fade away. “What if he is very angry with me? What if he doesn’t reply as I did not? Should I call him? No, No… If anyone hears me it will be way worse.” Biting her nails anxious, she eagerly stared at the phone when it finally blinked. Jumping into action she looked at the message.
“Oh Khushi! It’s so damn good to hear from you. Why would I be mad? You have no idea how worried I was.”
“Sorry! I didn’t mean to worry you. I just…. I failed to find a way to text you till now. But now I found one.”
“Are you honestly ok?”
“Yes! It may be a bit difficult for me to message or call you during the day. Please don’t worry if I don’t.”
“How can I not, Khushi? You are there alone with those people. Of course, I will.”
“Arnavji! I might be helpless but I am not weak. I can handle them well. Now tell me, What are you doing?”
“Thinking about you.”
“And?”
“Dreaming about kissing you.”
“God Arnavji! I didn’t know you are such a cheesy person. You don’t sound like the ASR people talk about at all.”
“It is all because of you. What did you do to me Ms.Khushi Kumari Gupta? You should be punished for this.”
“Oh really! You are the one thinking of me. It’s you dreaming. So, how is it my fault? what did I do?”
“What did I do? You Ms.Gupta kiss me at the airport and send me off. Now, how am I to survive after that?”
No reply……
“Now, if you are done blushing can you respond?”
“I am not.”
“Liar! I can see your beet-red face from here.”
“I am not talking if you are going to pull my leg like this.”
“Ok, fine. Don’t talk to me. We are chatting anyway.”
“Aghh! I am seriously not talking or chatting with you anymore.”
“OK..Ok. Sorry! Are you missing me?”
No reply.
“Come on, Khushi!”
No Reply.
“Well, I am sure my mark on your neck didn’t let you forget me.”
No Reply.
Getting more annoyed. “I am sure it stands out well on your creamy skin. Hide it well or you will be caught.”
No Reply….
Losing his cool... “Maybe I should have placed it a little lower and not on your neck. That way there would have been no problem of someone seeing it but you.”
“What do you think? Where do you want me to leave the next one?”
“Face is a no.”
“Moving down. The neck is a no.”
“Moving more down…….”
“STOP!”
“There you are…. What do you want me to stop, Khushi!”
“Please stop! I am chatting with you, aren't I?”
“Well fine. I don’t like it when you avoid me Khushi. Even in the future, don’t do that. Right now you are not with me so I am letting you off easy. But when you are with me, I am not going to let it go this quietly.”
“And you think, I will let you have your way, Mr.Raizada? The same applies to me. I am letting it go easy as you are not near me.”
“Unbelievable!”
Suddenly her other phone which was sitting on the bed started to ring loudly echoing through her room. Panicking she quickly typed, “Got to go. I love you! I will try to call you sometime tonight. Don’t worry I am completely fine.” And switching off the phone she rushed to the one which was still ringing.
---------------------------------------
Sitting at the airport Arnav glanced at the watch as it struck 7:00 pm. Waiting for the boarding call he thought, “She did not leave any message or give a call since then. Damn it! Why do I get so agitated when I don’t hear from her? I was the same emotional wreck even this morning. Hope she calls before I board the flight. Oh, Khushi! It is getting difficult to stay away from you. I still wonder how and when you became such an integral part of my life.”
As he sat there staring at the last reminiscences of the red Mehendi mark on his palm, he heard the announcement blare through the speaker “Flight No: 421 to Hyderabad is boarding now.” Picking the phone he swiftly moved his fingers, “Khushi! I will be on the flight for the next 2 hours and won’t be able to pick up your calls. An important meeting came up. I might be busy till late today. I will be back home by tomorrow. Still, don’t hesitate to give me a ring when you are free. We can talk if I have time. Miss you!”
Walking to the flight he recollected how she left the chat abruptly that afternoon. Taking his seat he typed concerned, “Why did you do that? Why did you leave in a rush earlier? Are you seriously fine? You are saying the truth, right? I promise I will soon come to you. Please stay safe till then.”
As the flight was about to take off he pulled his phone one last time and wrote, “I Love You, Khushi! Don’t forget to call me.”
-------------------------------------
Entering her room around 8:30 pm Khushi mumbled, “Finally, I can talk to him.” and promptly closed the door. Grabbing the phone with a wide smile she crashed onto the bed turning it on. As her eyes browsed through the messages her smile disappeared and she fell silent.
A little later she complained, annoyed, “Where is he going at this time of the day? What meeting is so important? What am I supposed to do now? I was so excited to talk to you Arnavji. This is not fair. How could you do this to me? Now I have to wait till you land to talk to you.”
Glancing at his last message again she smiled gently and whispered, “I love you too! Arnavji. I wish I could come to you right now. After so many years I feel like I belong somewhere. After my parents, this is the first time I have this overwhelming love for someone and that scares me at times. I am scared of losing you, Arnavji. I hate staying away from you. I can’t survive without you. How did I not realize when you became crucial to my living, Arnavji?”
Restless, she tried to kill time by reading a book but failed miserably. Getting out of bed she walked into the balcony and gazed at the stars that were shining next to the brightly lit moon. Her thoughts drifting away she sighed heavily saying, “If only Lavanya hadn’t called when I was chatting with him. If only I tried to talk to him somehow in the morning. If only I could hear his voice right now. If only I can tell him how much I love him and am missing him.”
-----------------------------------------
Don't forget to like and comment.
- Hope
A widow, Gauri met her long lost friend Omkara in a family function, who still ...
Life Journey of two people poles apart in career, status and style. One is the ...
Drabbles for Shrimad Ramayana Contest
Comments (1)
View all
imshveta @imshveta
+ 2
2 years ago
Wonderfully written expressions