Chapter Three

[NOCOPY]

Few of you were confused with Khushi's statement in the previous part regarding Arnav being by her side at the hospital. It was mentioned in the prologue, without name, and hope this note will help you clear the air. 

Chapter Three: Strangers in the Night

 

"When you have a connection with someone, it never really goes away. You snap back to being important to each other, because you still are."

~~ Alex Vause, Orange is the new black ~~

 

October, 2012

 

Arnav Singh Raizada was by no means a person to prefer public transportation over his sleek and comfortable four-wheeler, as short as the journey might be. The crowded buses and the chattering in the trains were one of the many things that he disliked from a very young age. He looked around the bus he was seated in that would take him to Khajjiar, cussing under his breath at the familiar sight the greeted him. Anjali and Aakash were standing at the front of the narrow pathway, dancing to old classics while the family cheered them. The family trip had started from Delhi to Dalhousie a week ago, and now, as they hired a private vehicle to their next stop, making his life a living hell. It was one thing he was not used to, these occasional trips once in every five months that the members of the Raizada family considered as mandatory and Arnav often found himself being a part in order to avoid sentimental melodrama of the women.

 

He looked out of the window as the van winded along the narrowed roads, at the landscape and the greenery surrounded him. He had spent most of the stay in Dalhousie to finalize the contract he had been working on one of the resorts where the capital infusion was needed. That had been the only reason he joined this time around, thanking his boss for giving the opportunity of turning the most boring trip into a profitable one. He had ignored the disapproval shakes of several heads as he spoke the manager, examining the operations and drawing up few of his initial ideas that would help the resort have its previous glory back and attract the tourists. And the trip to yet another hill station, to the country's own Mini Switzerland in that, was a small price he was forced to pay in order to make up for the disinterest and pacify his upset sister.

 

He decided to go through the travel guides once again that he had purchased back at Dalhousie as he weighed each of the resort and recreational centers in and around the hill station. Even the shortest journey of about forty-five minutes proved to be difficult to travel in the company of a crazy bunch of people, as crazy as his family were. He looked up at the increasing pitch of several voices at a time and sighed, shutting the guides with a definite slap. He looked at the only person he could rely on who was, not surprisingly, as irritated in that particular moment as Arnav was, a silent understanding passed between them as they stared at each other for a briefest second.

 

"Remind me of all the reasons for avoiding any such trips in future." Shyam Jha pleaded, shifting in his seat slightly while soothing the back of his four year old sleeping son. He stared at his wife with a small smile before tilting his head back to gaze at Arnav. "How can anyone be thrilled at the idea of a hill station who is constantly visiting one such place twice in a year?"

 

Arnav laughed as he looked at his sister and the eagerness with which she leaned in over the nearest seat to look out of the window as the van slowed in its speed. He then looked at the sleeping form of his nephew and smiled some more, the thrill of being an Uncle still not lost in him and he was on his way of becoming just that for the second time around. As was the case, his eyes gazed Anjali and her twinkling eyes, fixing them on his sister's baby bump and shook his head. "I still can't believe that she is three months pregnant. Again. Which is good in a way, actually. At least, with the second child on its way, it will make Anjali a little mature and reduce such annual trips."

 

"I doubt that." Shyam said thoughtfully, his voice lowered than normal as he leaned in, in order to avoid being overheard. "If handling her and you for over thirty years hasn't really dampened SasuMa's eagerness for such exotic resorts, with you being quiet a handful most of the times, I'm not sure it will with Anjali."

 

They shared a good natured laugh just as the van skidded to its halt. In the next few minutes, it was a chaos as he watched with a lazy grin, the family as they stepped out, taking in the momentary relief. He stuffed the travel guides in his laptop bag and waited for Shyam to step out of the seat so he could follow the lead. But instead, he sighed when Shyam shifted in his seat, facing Arnav with a pointed gaze. There was a known glint as the elder man watched his brother-in-law, a curious, almost warning tone in the usually friendly hues of light grays without an ounce of judgment. "What?" Arnav asked impatiently, though the knowledge of what he had signed up by choosing a seat next to Shyam on their way to Khajjiar flicked in his mind like a flame of a candle in a dark room. He had known that Shyam would corner him at the first opportunity and bring up the impending conversation that took place in a small, friendly cabin of his sister's Architect few weeks ago.

 

For a moment, the image of blazing splash of green with golden streaks flashed in front of him as Arnav closed his eyes involuntarily, like it had been at the mere remembrance of the evening spent with the couple, hearing out the ideas for their flat they were planning to move in to welcome their second child in a husky, rather attractive voice of the beautiful woman who captured his attention with two, unexpected encounters.

 

Shyam swore under his breath as he stared at Arnav. "Shit! You got it bad. Real, real, bad, isn't it, Chotey?"

 

Arnav laughed at the conclusion as he rolled his eyes, his movements not giving away the nervous anxiety he was feeling with the embarrassment on being caught for liking a woman enough to spend weeks with her thoughts but not enough to pursue her into a relationship. "I know you've been watching some of that cheesy stuff along with your wife." He remarked as he waved his hand at the door. "You can enjoy the night here lullabying Yug but I do mind this uncomfortable van."

 

Shyam shook his head as he finally rose from his seat, his movements though at ease was cautious as he placed a hand against his son's head, making sure the child was comfortable with him walking. When he spoke twenty seconds later after both of them stepped out of the little van, both gazing ahead at the family that was dancing their way towards the ten minute walk to reach the resort, his voice was soft, teasing with a brotherly affection whose experience were a constant guide for his younger brother's way of living when met with an impasse. "I know that you're attracted to Khushi Gupta when you said you are together, as teasing as it might have been at that point of time. And I can say this based on our interactions even though they are strictly on professional front. She is not the one to be in a meaningless relationship."

 

Arnav felt a strange disappointment seep through him at the respect he heard in Shyam's voice. "You're reading too much in between lines when there is absolutely nothing going on between us." He said while adjusting the strap of laptop bag on his shoulder.

 

He felt a shiver run down his spine when Shyam turned around, blocking his way. "Do you really think I'm your sister to buy your words, Arnav? Do I look like someone who misunderstands a person, someone I love and respect? Do you not know the traits of a criminal lawyer at all?"

 

Arnav looked away, even the small, embarrassing smile slipped away at the direct approach.

 

"I've been watching you ever since you saw her in that cabin, Arnav. I've, in the last week that you immersed yourself in work like never before. Yes, you are as uninterested as you were regarding these trips but you're awfully quiet this time though. And I did watch, the way you eyed your mobile, contemplating to give her a call. Yes, I know," Shyam raised a hand in a gesture that he was not yet done when Arnav tried to interrupt. "I overheard you asking Anjali for her number in pretext of passing it down to one of your clients for the remodeling of their office space. It's okay Arnav." His voice softened by the end, considerably reduced by few notches as Shyam held his hand on Arnav's shoulder. "It's okay to move on, to embrace love when crossed its path with you..."

 

"f**k!" Arnav hissed under his breath, not caring about a sleeping child in his company. He then looked up at Shyam, shaking his head with sudden tiredness. "f**k you, Jha. There's no love involved here. There never will and what I feel for that Khushi woman is nothing but purely physical."

 

Then, Arnav cussed some more for the unreasonable outburst. Taking a deep breath, he craned his head, making sure that they were alone and that none of the family members were about to walk in on them while they were having a conversation in the middle of nowhere. By the time he looked at Shyam, he was positively sure that his defenses were up and in place. "Why are we even having this conversation, Shyam?" He demanded.

 

He watched helplessly while Shyam nodded with a faint smile. "For one thing, if what you want from her is a night of mind blowing sex, you'd have made a pass on her that very evening as soon as Anjali and I were out of your sight. Enquiring her number and contemplating whether or not to call her tells me that you care for her. Which is why I've to warn you, force you if need be, to consider giving yourself a chance with her."

 

Arnav stared at his brother-in-law, who was nothing but a friend whom he would rely on at any situation, as Shyam turned around and walked past him, whispering soothing words to his son when the kid stirred in his arms, leaving Arnav behind to ponder in his thoughts.

 

But in the past few years had been a testament of his control over his emotions. He pushed away the memories of another woman, a toxic combination of both pleasant and painful ones, as he shut his eyes helplessly. True, he had been attracted to Khushi like he had never been to any woman in the past five years. He cared for her, which in itself was so strange and in odds with his personality. Yet, there was a sense of peace her presence offered. He followed the family aimlessly as he thought of Khushi and the innocent smile that was bright enough to light his otherwise dark life.

 

As was the only thing that kept him wide awake for most of the nights that followed, Arnav smiled at the memory of the blazing hazel eyes, of the soft, almost musical laughter, of the slight nod of approval and of the luscious lips as she bit her lower one whenever she disliked any particular idea. Now, as he walked down the narrow path lined up with colorful flower pots on either side in the cold breeze, the lush beauty and the nature's humming left him with nothing but want - of warmth Khushi could offer. He looked in the front, a ghost of a smile appeared on his lips as he realized that he was alone with his family walking twenty feet away in the front, with Shyam joining them with one of his cheerful smiles, he pulled his mobile out from his jeans pocket, unable to resist the temptation of calling her anymore, cursing Shyam and his brotherly lecture as he did.

 

He stopped walking as the phone rang on the other side, his mouth curving into a disbelieving smile at the caller tune that he remembered as one of the hit numbers from sixties, the song being about two strangers meeting in the night only to find love in each other which was uncannily the perfect description of what he felt for her. Almost, he corrected with a shake.

 

"Hello?" He heard her from the other end, the polite questioning about the caller being one of the many things his mother usually lecture him about as Arnav was nowhere as gentle as the voice spoke.

 

Shaking his head at the amazement at how easily he was able to draw a connection between her and him, the contrasting styles they opted for as his eyes flickered at purple lilacs just as he reached the three cottages they had booked for their five day stay here at Khajjiar.

 

"Have you ever felt like the singer is voicing your emotions when you heard a particular song and connected to it like you never before, despite hearing it for a countless times?" He asked with a soft smile, imagining a pair of hazel greens with golden streaks narrowed with confusion.

 

"Err... May I please know whom I'm speaking with?"

 

Arnav laughed aloud, enjoying the confusion in her voice that didn't tamper the politeness. "Someone who is single, not a father and interested in you."

 

He waited at the brief pause followed by his rather unusual introduction. He knew he sounded like a maniac, someone who promised trouble. Something told him that he would be the kind of person whom Khushi would want to stay away from. Yet, the other, equally insane part assured him that it wouldn't be the case, and that she was bold enough to take the plunge and accept his mindless pleasures, if that it is what he offered, if at all.

 

"Arnav?" He heard Khushi's surprising and angry voice filtered in. "Mrs. Jha's brother?"

 

It gave him immense satisfaction that she remembered him. He chuckled while sitting on the nearby bench. "Not bad, Khushi."

 

"Why did you call?"

 

A low, amused grin escaped from his throat at the angry voice demanding with authority just as he saw his sister coming out of one of the cottages, her eyes finding him with ease while walking towards him, muttering under her breath of what Arnav knew as complaints for not being with them. "I'm facing a difficult situation and thought of asking for your suggestion." He said softly, wondering why he was doing what he was doing. Was it because of Shyam and his encouraging words? Or was it what he always wanted ever since he laid eyes on Khushi? Arnav was not sure and in that moment, it was something he didn't want to care about.

 

"Oh?" Khushi asked, her voice comparatively soft. "What is it that you want my suggestions for?"

 

Arnav smiled, lowering his volume just a little when Anjali was hardly ten footsteps away. "I was wondering about the best way to spend time with you. Will it be over a coffee or dinner?"

 

"What?" Khushi demanded from the other end, her voice was shrill that he held his mobile away for a second. "You're such a... flirtiest... badtameez aadmi... I don't dine with strangers!"

 

"Oh, coffee it is then." Arnav said with a grin, his face relaxing with pleasant warmth that her innocent provoked, soothing him like no one. "I'll pick you up from your office building this coming Friday, 6 PM."

 

He laughed as he heard the disconnected beep of the call without replying, surprised that he was not really surprised by her response, just as Anjali reached him.

 

"Here we are missing you and you're making plans with one of your girlfriends? Arnav, the main purpose of this trip is to spend with family."

 

Arnav stared at his sister, still smiling, as he rose from the bench. "She is not one of my girlfriends, Didi. When did I ever date two women at a time, other than that one night of threesome, which was bloody awesome, might I add?" He said teasingly but nodded when Anjali glared at him. "She's a friend, Anjali, nothing else so stop those wheels of your brain and don't come up with one of your match fixing schemes."

 

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January, 2015

 

"Here's your coffee." She heard her sister's cheerful voice and tilted her head to find Payal walking in with a tray.

 

"Coffee?" Khushi asked quietly, unsure of speaking anything that might be yet another moment of revelation of the drastic change in her life. She watched her sister as Payal pulled a chair from the study table towards the window, where she was seated on the window ledge.

 

"Lunch is few hours away so I thought we could use some coffee while talking." Payal said with a smile as she handed a mug to Khushi, taking one for her. "You know, I've been missing our sisterly talk ever since I got married. It was difficult travelling all the way from Bandra to Navi Mumbai with office and then..."

 

Khushi smiled with an understanding nod. She looked down at the dark liquid in the mug and grimaced. "I mean, when did I start drinking coffee?" She asked tentatively as she stared at her sister. She sighed and turned aside when Payal bit her lower lip, looking out of the window as she held a small bunch of purple lilacs from an earthen pot that was placed on the sill. "It's okay Di. Really. I want to know as much you know about me."

 

Payal took her hand in hers, squeezing it lightly as she said. "I don't know anything about your boyfriend, if that is what you meant. You're secretive about him and when I asked you, all you said was that he was someone who had problems with commitment and you didn't want to talk about your relationship till you were sure he was okay with it."

 

Khushi chuckled bitterly as she stared at the pot. Given the situation she was in, it didn't take her long to realize that this flower pot might have been presented to her by her boyfriend. She closed her eyes and leaned in, her fingers clawing in the front, trying to gather as much information she could about him as possible. What did her sister meant by Khushi being secretive? What was this pot meant in their relationship? Were the flowers symbolic of their love?

 

"Tell me about this man." She asked suddenly as she shifted in her seat, facing Payal. "Arnav. He was the one to be with me at the hospital. What kind of relationship did I share with him?"

 

Payal smiled, the eagerness to change the topic in her eyes was not lost with Khushi as she returned her sister's smile meekly. "Arnav and you... you guys started off with fighting. In fact, you met him even before Aakash proposed me. You are friends. Really good friends. He used to be by your side whenever you needed him. And you... you fought for him with his own parents when they failed to see through him during his rough times."

 

Khushi felt a strange familiarity as she heard her sister speaking about a stranger. She sipped her coffee and grimaced at the bitterness. "I hate this." She remarked, surprised that she ever liked this tasteless coffee in the first place. "Can I talk to him, Di?" She asked, her eyes twinkling with unexpected hope. She might not know the two years of her life. She might not know the man she loved but she knew herself. And if she shared a special bond with her sister's brother-in-law, then he might help her with finding her answers. She looked up at her sister, smiling genuinely for the first time in weeks. "If he is my friend, I might as well talk to him, see if I can remember anything at all."

 

Payal jumped off her seat with as excited as Khushi was sure dancing in her face. "That's really amazing." Payal said cheerfully while handing Khushi her mobile. "It might help to cheer you up as Arnav is the only one who makes you laugh at any situation."

 

Khushi mumbled a small thanks and watched as Payal danced her way out of her room, shutting the door behind on her way out. Khushi took a deep breath as she searched for the contact in her sister's mobile, her fingers pausing for a tiniest moment at the name before dialing the number.

 

Her grip on the cushion tightened as she heard the ringing on the other side. She shut her eyes with nervous anticipation as her heart thudded against her chest, leaving her vulnerable that she failed to recognize herself. There was nothing she recognized herself anymore. The scar was too deep, the cut too sharp and the bleeding unstoppable as she focused on her heart beats instead, allowing herself to concentrate on one of the songs from her collection as she snapped the remote button to switch the music player on.

 

A soft smile appeared on her lips as soon as the silence in her room filled with the familiar music, the deep, husky and resonating voice of Sinatra helping her to tamper her heart beat, just as the ringing on the other side was answered by a rather husky voice.

 

"Yeah Payal?"

 

There was a strange nervousness that gripped her heart as Khushi bit her lower lip. This man was her friend, she chanted her sister's words, gathering strength from that information. This man might hold a key to her past. Though the chances are slim, Khushi was not in a position to miss the chance of finding out about the man she loved before her accident wiped off his very existence.

 

"Err... hello." Khushi said, unsure of the response she would get from him. "This is Payal's sister."

 

There was a momentary pause as silence greeted her from the other end. She gulped the excitement as she waited, her fingers refusing to stop the tapping on her knee as she stared at the lilacs. When she heard his voice filtering through the phone, something in his voice promised that she might, after all, have a chance to know her life.

 

"I'm coming."

 

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