Chapter 35

 

 

 

"You didn't tell me what's bothering you," Akash said in a comforting way. Diya couldn't bring herself to confess her fears to him the previous day and Akash was still in dark about all the confusions. Unable to take it anymore, he had called her a while back and ultimately, after five minute long conversation, he had found an opening to ask this question.

 

Diya trembled. Although she had made up her mind that she was going to tell Akash no matter what, she couldn't bring herself to do and she had no idea why. May be it was because it was unnatural or something she wasn't used to. The problem solver in her life had always been Khushi and without her elder sister's guidance or at least permission, she found herself unwilling to express herself in front of this man who had been a stranger to her a few days back.

 

Khushi was the problem and the solution here. Diya knew she had to talk to Khushi before she did anything else. Her mind alarm was intuitively telling that her relationship with Akash hadn't progressed to such a level where she could say anything and everything to him. Somehow, she found that true. She couldn't do it. She couldn't bring herself to do it. But she had to be truthful to him. After all, she had scared the hell out of him when she had crashed herself onto him in the cafe, breaking down and refusing to talk. The poor guy would be beside himself with worry, "I will Akash," she told meekly, "but not today. I don't know why at the spur of moment I thought I should tell you but I can't. I am sorry. I hope you understand. But I will tell you very soon."

"I get it," Akash said making Diya exhale in relief, "just to make you sure, I am always available to you. No matter what the problem is, just give me a ring, alright?"

"Of course," Diya smiled, "thank you."

"You don't have to thank me," Akash smiled, "so any new books you read?"

"A few but those are the ones you suggested me to read," Diya was glad to have glided back to this normal conversation, "have you any other interesting titles for me to read?"

"I might have," Akash said in a teasing tone, "but that conversation isn't going to happen on the phone. Meet me in an hour at the cafe..."

"Sure," Diya smiled as she went to her wardrobe, her phone clutched in her left hand and started rummaging in it, looking for something to wear, "the coffee treat is yours, Mr..."

"Pleased," Akash muttered happily as he walked towards the garage, unlocking his car and speeding off the driveway, "don't be late or the deal is off." He could hear Diya laugh as she cut the call and he smiled to himself, anticipating an amazing day with her. He even dared to imagine a date...

 

Only he didn't know that someone, some stranger had set on making his day quite the opposite of what Akash had imagined.

 

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By that evening Arnav had decided Khushi was bipolar. Don't ask how he came to that drastic conclusion but yes, he honestly felt she was even though her best friend vehemently refused her of being one. At least, his decisiveness included her exclusive behaviour with him which he, most certainly, found bipolar.

 

Khushi acted totally opposite each time she met him. She was all helping at one time then she would go to being a complete bitch. She would cry on his shoulders then snub him after getting comforted by him. Who would do that unless they had some serious personality issues. Arnav though for one thing, didn't realize that he was one, too. He was too busy dissecting Khushi's personality to reflect on his own behaviour and face it, he was not someone who was comfortable in pointing out his own faults.

 

They were sitting outside, on the porch of their cottage, having dinner. NK had plugged his earphones, not caring about a word the others were talking. Khushi and Chris were talking about something very seriously which Arnav assumed to be about the project. Arnav sat staring at his nemesis. She was way too absorbed in her work to pay him any attention at all and he liked it. Discretion was really necessary. If she caught him looking at her, he would be in serious trouble as her blazing look would be enough to fry him out of existence.

 

Arnav had no idea why this woman intrigued him so much. Probably because she knew how to be different at different circumstances. Like a chameleon she changed her colours with ease. But it was not the difference between evil and good with her being able to morph into a sweet person while she was shrewd inside. No, she was a simple person who had mastered the art of hiding her true, hidden emotions away from the prying eyes of the world. That art, Arnav knew. For he was the same and that was why he was attracted to her and the attraction just increased day by day.

 

What puzzled him even more was the lack of guilt in his mind and heart. He remembered only too well the amount of pain he felt when he kissed her the other day. But weeks later, when he finally started to acknowledge the fact that yes, he was insanely attracted to her, her wackiness, her simplicity and the fact that she could judo flip him, he felt no guilt or any pain. In fact he felt nice, pleasant and none too confused.

 

What was the reason for this transformation he didn't know but somewhere in the back of his head, he knew his Chippu didn't have any qualms. In fact she would be happy about this. Not that he knew that he was falling in love with his Chippu all over again but this feeling of being his love was refreshing and felt amazing.

 

LOVE? That word jerked Arnav out his thoughts. Whoa! Where did that come from? That too this soon! This couldn't be happening. It was way too fast for him to think he was in love with this girl. Certainly, he was bewildered, confused, roused by her and her extraordinary personality but he felt it was too quick to give their dynamics a name. He was scared...

 

He was too busy thinking about the new developments happening in his life that he didn't realize Chris was trying to talk to him, "Hey NANNAV!"

 

Only when his nickname was yelled did he look up from his plate to see Khushi, Chris and NK standing near him, looking smug and annoyingly superior. Each of their faces had identical expressions but only Chris voiced it, "where have you been lost? Girl trouble," he quirked his eyebrows to emphasize the fact. Arnav glared at him, "what's the matter?"

"We wanted to tell you that we are leaving for our field work tomorrow early in the morning. We have found a perfect place to start our work," Chris said placidly, not even making an effort to tone down his expressions though Arnav was too excited to even consider it. His mind was already galloping about the experience that was in store for him tomorrow, "What exactly are we doing?"

 "We?" a sarcastic tone cut through his happiness and Arnav looked around to find the source of the voice which most obviously belonged to Khushi who was looking particularly irritated that he had included himself in the group without asking her.

 

" Yeah, I mean I am not about to sit around doing nothing, am I?" Arnav countered, this time really not understanding what was her problem.

 

Khushi scoffed, "Just remember what you told me when you came to convince me to let you join us on our trip."

 

Arnav stared at her incredulously, "You're still stuck on that?"

"Yes...have a problem?" Khushi's clipped tones further aggravated him, "bugger off..."

"Guys," Chris intervened before the fight took an ugly turn, "Khush it's not fair to leave him here alone. He is coming with us."

"What the hell!" Khushi glared at Chris so pointedly that Arnav was surprised that he didn't recoil, "we have already discussed this and he is not coming with us."

Chris raised his arms in surrender, "I have already told you my opinion and I do not wish to argue further. We are just three and if one more join us it is not going to make any difference and it not good to leave him here alone without any work when his cousin is with us and mind you, we agreed for a fourth person so NK here wouldn't feel bored when we are busy with our work. I don't know what happened between you two and am in no mood to find out, either. If you want these childish fights to continue then go ahead with it but just remember I won't be supporting you in this."

 

Khushi opened and closed her mouth several times like a gold fish before realising her defeat. There was no way  she could find to counter argue with Chris as he a valid point. She murmured a yes, gave Arnav a look of deepest loathing and went back into her room. Chris smiled at Arnav, "don't worry about her. She will come around. You have obviously irritated her to no end for her to be this testy around you. Now you have a chance to make up for it."

 

Arnav smiled and went back to his own room, his thoughts muddled and confused.

 

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Khushi slammed the door and crashed on her bed feeling angrier than she had ever felt. Her hands were itching to throw some stuff and break but only the thought that this was a rented room kept her rage at bay. She was so angry that she felt she could murder Arnav if he came in front of her.

 

That accursed man always had his way with things which she absolutely loathed. She didn't think Chris would actually support him instead of his best friend but Chris did and she was hurt because of that. She never knew a day would come where hers and Chris's opinions on things wouldn't match. She hated Arnav and thought Chris would too but here everything was happening exactly the opposite. Arrgh!

 

She had no idea why she felt so infuriated by him. Subconsciously, she knew she was wrong but she couldn't do anything to do about it. Yes he had kissed her in anger but he had apologized for his behaviour and gave his reasons too. He was someone who never did that. He was not a lewd, lecherous or a disgusting person. He was quite the contradicting image. He was decent, fun, caring and an amazing guy altogether but the bottom line was he was annoying and sarcastic. That was no reason to be so angry at him but Khushi never had any justification as to why she felt this way towards him though there was a nagging suspicion in her mind, one that she didn't want to accept.

 

He reminded her of her Rinnie.

 

Yes. He painfully reminded her of the only love she had her whole life. His anger, his concern, his attitude, his sarcasm, everything reminded her of the boy she held so dear to her heart. May be that's  why she felt impossible to accept him because he was the spitting image of what she had thought her Rinnie to be.

 

Only she didn't know he was the same...

 

Her mind exploded with all the pent up emotions. Tears rolled out her eyes on their own accord and she didn't stop it or wipe it. She needed to cry, to release all her feelings, to accept the fact that she was going to be lonely for the rest of her life because no one could come close to being her Rinnie no matter how hard the other guy tried.

 

She could hear knocking outside of her door and she knew Chris was trying to talk to her but she couldn't bring herself to open the door. She needed this time for herself. She needed to be alone and try to keep her pains and feelings in check. She couldn't open the door or she would unleash something that would be impossible to control and she didn't want to hurt her best buddy in her fury. She clutched the pillow tightly and lulled herself to sleep, desperately trying to control herself. She could hear Chris say, let's leave her alone for a while. She will be fine. She is just miffed because she hates it when something doesn't happen her way.'

She closed her eyes and cried herself to sleep.

 

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Anjali was worried sick. Vinay was pacing around the hall, tensed to the skin. The whole Raizada family was anxious. It was almost midnight and Akash hadn't returned home. He wasn't receiving his calls either. He had left home in the evening after telling them he was going to a cafe to meet a friend and later a bookstore he so frequently visited but he hadn't been to either place, they came to know when they were trying to find out about his ware bouts.

 

Akash was never this irresponsible. He always let someone know when he was bound to get late or got stuck somewhere that was why Anjali was on the verge of crying. There was something terribly wrong and she could only hope that her intuitions were wrong. The rest of them were silent. Lavanya hadn't spoken a word since she came home and learnt that Akash was missing. Anjali could feel her pain. Akash and Lavanya practically grew up together and they were as close as siblings and probably closer to each other than her and Arnav or Vinay and Akash. Lavanya was the only person Akash shared everything with. Anjali could understand what she must be going through. Her Mami, Mama and Nani were crying silently while Vinay looked absolutely scared.

 

Finally her Mami and Nani went to the pooja room to pray for Akash's well being. She just sat where she was, staring outside the window when Vinay got a call. He looked at her, scared out his mind as he received the call. The scared expression soon turned to absolute horror as Lavanya bounded to him, "Jiju...what happened? What's wrong!"

Vinay looked at Lavanya as his phone slipped through his grasp and fell onto the floor with a thud, "Akash had an accident."

 

And the world stopped for a second for Anjali as she clutched her mouth in horror before she unfroze and followed her husband and Lavanya out of the house to go to the hospital as fast as she could.

 

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When Akash regained his consciousness, he first didn't realize where he was. The walls around him where pristine white and the air smelled sterile. Then he came to know he was in a hospital and the memory replayed in his mind. The last thing he remembered was a speeding truck that came in his way as he tried to take a turn to reach the quaint little cafe that was on the outskirts of the city. He was happy that he was meeting Diya but all that came to a full stop when a truck rammed into his car and he lost his consciousness. He was practically surprised that he had survived that though he no idea how.

 

As he looked around he saw a tear stricken face of Diya who was looking at him with a mixture of relief and sadness. As he smiled, she hugged him tightly, "oh my god! I was so scared! What if something happened to you! How could you be so irresponsible!" and Akash was still smiling as she continued her rant. Even though he was in pain it felt good to see Diya so worried about him. About him!

 

"Diya," he whispered, "I am okay..."

"No you are not!" she almost screamed, "look at you!" and that's when Akash braved an attempt to look at himself. His whole body was covered in bandages and his right leg was in a cast as was his left hand. He was in serious trouble and in extreme pain.

 

"What happened?" he whispered painfully. His mouth hurt to even talk.

 

"Broken bones. Though fortunately not a fatal damage. You'll be fine in some weeks," Diya cried.

 

"It's okay then, right?" Akash smiled in spite of himself. Diya glared at him before collapsing on the visitor's chair, "you don't know how I felt when I saw you after the accident. I have never felt so helpless and scared. There was so much blood and no one was sure you would survive. I died a thousand times before the doctor came out and said you were out of danger. Please don't do something like this ever again."

"When did you find me?" Akash whispered, "and what happened to the truck who hit my car. Is the driver okay?"

"He fled," Diya looked at him painfully, "the police reckon he was drunk. The investigation is on. They are trying to find out more about the accident. Do you remember anything?"

"Anjali Di is going to have a heart attack when she sees me like this," groaned Akash and exactly at that moment, the door opened and his family burst in looking terrified. Lavanya headed straight to him, her eyes concerned and extremely scared, "oh my, AK! What the hell!"

"La...chill! Calm down," he tried to comfort, "I am fine!"

"Look at you!" she practically screeched, "you are okay? Okay?"

"Listen...I am going to be fine," Akash said softly, "Diya was there when the accident happened. She got me to the hospital. I am out of danger. Don't worry!"

"Diya? Diya who?" Lavanya muttered and turned around. To her extreme relief it was Diya, NK's best friend and a sister to her. She went and crashed to her, "Thank you! Thank you! I would have died if something happened to him. Thanks so much, sweetheart!"

 

Diya just stared at Lavanya, unable to speak. Something had exploded in her heart and she didn't know what it was. She felt only the pain...