Chapter 3

Khushi stayed out of Nishant’s sight for the rest of the physiotherapy session. And only came in front of him when he was leaving.

Nishant deliberately stayed behind as she held the door open. He had to ask her if she was ok and mainly happy,

“Arnav is progressing well, Khushi. Although it’s quite early but I am sure he will be on his feet in near future.”

Khushi smiled and nodded. What was she going to say when she knew that until that really happened, until Arnav really was back on his feet, he won’t be at peace, and he won’t let her be either.

“You are taking good care of him, you know.”

“it’s my responsibility Dr. Nishant.” She said, hoping to end the conversation.

“I know. You were always a good nurse, I never doubted that.” He said with a small smile.

“I meant as a wife.” She hastily said and he nodded.

“You are not practicing, are you?”

“No and now if you will please excuse me, I need to go. My baby must be awake.” She said referring to her child and he took it as his cue to leave, but not entirely convinced about her happiness…

Would she have been happier if they were still together? If he showed a little more courage? But she also didn’t wait for him, did she? The pain of heartbreak when he got to know about her marriage 4 years ago, was still evident in his heart… he punched his hand on his car’s bonnet before opening the door and zooming out of the premises at once.

.

.

Khushi sighed in relief that Nishant left. She knew he was trying to talk to her, trying to make her open to him. But why didn’t he understand it was 5 years too late? He had left her; he was the coward and then he had an audacity to confront her why she didn’t wait for him?

She was glad, she didn’t though. She wouldn’t have met Arnav otherwise. Arnav. The man who was her father’s favorite student, then the man her father wanted her to consider marrying and then her husband and father of her child. She had immense respect for him, she cared a lot about him, and she knew he loved her a lot. But did she? Could she? What was love even? She didn’t trust that emotion anymore. Not after what happened all those years ago.

Flashback from 5 years ago:

Khushi’s father, Shashi was a professor in junior college and also took classes in higher secondary grades of the same school. That was when he met a bright young boy, Arnav. Unlike other kids his age, Arnav was much more mature, never indulging in teasing sessions or whatever other kids in his class were busy with. Topper in academics, star in sports, Arnav was a hero in their school, but he was also a loner. He hardly had any friends. Shashi’s own son, Shyam who was in the same class as Arnav, also couldn’t befriend him. It was as if Arnav had closed his heart to any new people.

And one day the suspense was cleared when arnav’s parents visited the school and requested for his school transfer certificate. Apparently, they were divorced, none wanting his responsibility in their new families and a 9th grader Arnav was to be sent away to a hostel in Lonawala.

Prof. Shashi couldn’t do much then, but he had assured Arnav that whenever he needs any support in his life, he can contact Shashi. That earned him a special place in Arnav’s heart. Arnav often wrote him emails and kept in touch with him telling him about his progress through his college career and later his job. But he never came to Mumbai in these years.

.

.

It was after 10 years when Arnav came to meet his beloved professor. This time as a young corporate employee in a well-known firm and posted in Mumbai. He had come to take Shashi’s blessings and thank him for being there for him! Shashi had never doubted Arnav’s capabilities and knew that he had a bright future, and now looking at this boy who was grown up to be a fine man, made Shashi proud. He wished he could make this boy a part of his family.

But as he was weaving these dreams that was precisely when his daughter, Khushi was harboring a dream of her married life. Albeit with someone else.

.

.

Khushi was a pampered child of prof. Shashi and his wife Garima, not to mention her elder brother Shyam who could do anything for her smile. As both Shashi and Garima were working and were from families with good money, they could afford an apartment in Lokhandwala complex, a place where mostly elite and upper class lived.

Unlike her brooding elder brother, khushi was a bubbly, friendly, jovial girl who easily made friends. throughout her school years and then in her college, she was always surrounded by people.

And that was when she met Nishant. He was her senior by a couple of years. He was in fact studying to be a physiotherapist. But they had a common group of friends, as both colleges were in same campus and shared the canteen!

Nishant and Khushi hit it off almost instantly. Both were of similar nature, happy, full of life! A dashing, charming doctor in making Nishant was already a heartthrob amongst the girls in their college. But he had taken more interest in Khushi.

And it soon led to a beautiful, dreamy phase in khushi’s life. Having tea at roadside stalls, traveling to Lonawala on his bike, eating pakodas while taking a shelter from rain were some of kodak moments she had only seen in movies or her favorite romance novels! And Shaan as she had started calling him, was fulfilling all those dreams…

There was just one point he lacked though, unlike her, Nishant wasn’t from a financially well to do family, in fact he was studying on scholarships and student loans and could only afford an old bike or roadside snacks. But for khushi, those were most romantic moments she was living…

End of flashback

The sound of doorbell broke her trance, followed by incessant knocks on the door and her bhai’s voice calling out her name impatiently. She wasn’t expecting them. But then again, as they lived just 3 buildings away from hers, it wasn’t really unusual for them to visit her without any notice.

And sure enough, there stood her parents, bhai and Bhabhi.

“Why did it take so long to open the door? Are you ok, baccha?” Shyam asked worriedly

“haan bhai, I was just...(lost in the past).“ last part wasn't said aloud.

“Offo shyam, she must be with Arnav. Hai na Khushi?” Priti, Shyam’s wife playfully added, to lighten her husband’s mood and to tease Khushi a bit.

“No, Bhabhi. I was actually-” she fumbled with words, making Shyam and her parents frown.

“How is Arnav, Khushi?” Shashi asked, regarding his daughter with a curious look.

“He is fine Papa. Resting in our room.”

Shashi nodded and asked Khushi's mother to come with him, as he proceeded to Arnav's room.

As Shashi and Garima left to check on Arnav, it left Khushi with her bhai and Bhabhi alone

“are you sure you are ok, gudiya? You need anything?” Shyam asked once again

“No bhai. I am fine. Stop worrying.”

“That’s not possible for him, you are like his first child!” Priti said, getting up to go check on Arnav herself. But Shyam made no movement in that direction, rather, he came near khushi,

“That she is. My baccha and will always be.” Shyam lovingly said and caressed khushi’s hair, like a caring ‘father’ he was for his baby sister, "Just let me know if anything is troubling you, gudiya, and your bhai will take care of it, ok?" he asked and Khushi understood he hinted towards the recent condition of her life...

Khushi knew Shyam was not convinced about Arnav when Shashi brought his alliance for Khushi. Arnav being as good as an orphan, his parents had long abandoned him, Shyam didn’t want Khushi to go to such “broken” house. And Arnav being reserved to Shyam had never helped him improve his opinion either…but when khushi declared she wanted to marry Arnav, Shyam couldn’t deny her.

But now, as Arnav first lost his job and then got into this accident, Shyam’s concerns for his sister’s future were back with a vengeance.

--*--

Lying wide awake in his bed, Arnav was toying with his cell phone absent mindedly. His call with his college friend-his only friend, Aman had made him restless again. Aman was originally from Delhi and after their college, he went back to Delhi to be close to his family. When Arnav met with that accident Aman was out of country and as soon as he landed back, he booked a flight to Mumbai to meet Arnav.

But that wasn’t why Arnav was restless. It was because Arnav knew, Aman would try to convince him again to consider a job offer Arnav couldn’t take. A job out of India was something he couldn’t consider. He didn’t want to take Khushi away from her family. He knew she wouldn’t agree to it neither would her parents and especially her brother.

That was exactly what he had told Aman the day before his accident too.

And then he had gone for the job interview in one of the leading start ups in Mumbai, being oblivious to the new management it recently had.

But, the moment he saw Rakesh Khanna as a part interviewing team, he knew he would not get this job.

However, that didn’t hurt him as much as what happened next did.

He was just exiting the building when he came face to face with a lady he never wanted to see again. Mrs. Monika Raizada aka presently Mrs. Mona Khanna, wife of Rakesh Khanna. Also, the woman who was Arnav's birth mom!

Seeing her evoked all unpleasant memories of his childhood into early adulthood; the lonely evenings, having no parent to attend his school functions & celebrate success and that final push where they easily threw him out of their lives.

So lost was he in these thoughts that day; the heavy rain adding to the inner storm in his heart, that he never realized when his car slid off the road and only stopped when it hit a tree.

.

.

And now, lying on this bed, thinking about the new storm in his life with return of Khushi’s ex, and as her family’s voices reached his ears, he wondered was he left alone all over again?

--*--

A/N – Glimpses of Khushi and Nishant’s past have started and next chapter will be more on them as well as Arnav and khushi’s marriage and initial days of married life.

Also, something to think about for you all – since we switched the positions of person having the past, the onus to prove loyalty is also changed. It’s khushi who has more to prove her commitment to arnav here since its him who is her second choice…does that make sense? Rest I’ll leave it for you to view their characters as you want :)

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