Chapter 44

 

 

 

NK and Lavanya were loading all their stuff in the boot while Chris talked to Amanda and explained the emergency. Khushi's dad was shot and he was fighting between life and death. Khushi had got a call a few hours back and numb, at the shock of her father's accident, she was unable to say anything to anyone at all. Surprisingly, it was Arnav who somehow saw through her silence, tried to find out what was wrong and after reading a SOS message from Diya, understood that Khushu's dad was admitted to the hospital and alerted everyone else. Amanda had given permission as soon as she heard what had happened and neither did any board people had any qualms because they all were aware of Khushi's standard of work and after being told about the data that had been collected so far, they had no doubts that their project was in safe hands. Khushi would finish it as soon as she was out of her emotional trauma.

 

A small smile lit Chris's face as he saw Arnav protectively holding Khushi and consoling her. None of them had been able to calm her down except Arnav who without trying to string up any conversation, had broken all her defenses and made her cry, holding him like she was holding on to her life. In a matter of few days, Arnav had become closer to Khushi than he might have possibly been in the years that he had known her and Chris couldn't have been more happier seeing Khushi feeling so comfortable with a person so worth the wait her life had put her through. Arnav was made for Khushi...

 

NK came running to him, "all done..."

 

Chris turned and smiled, "cool, tell Arnav to bring Khushi..."

 

"I cant believe bhai just openly accepted the bond between him and Khushi," NK muttered fondly staring at the duo. "I mean just look at him. The way he is holding her like she is the most precious thing in his life."

"It was only a matter of time," Chris smiled, "there is always a person in this world who manages to bring out the best in you and I am glad it is Khushi and Arnav for each other. It was really painful to see Khushi suffer."

"I know..." NK muttered, "I have seen bro at his lowest, pining for the love of his life. At least someone's there for him now. Someone who understands him."

"Love of his life?" Chris questioned as they walked back to their car, "what do you mean?"

"Great guy..." Chris muttered as sat behind the wheel, getting ready to drive to the airport of Goa.

 

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None of it mattered, the secret, the uncertainty, nothing mattered to him as he saw his happiness being clouded by a shock. He just wanted to be there for her in her toughest time and he didn't care whether his relationship was going to be out in open. He just wanted to be there for her, for his Khushi.

She sat there, hugging him, still unable to believe that her father had been shot. The man who held so much importance in her life was fighting for his life and she was helpless. Her agony and pain at her father's condition was enough to make Arnav forget everything else and rush to her side and since then she was holding him like he was her lifeline.

 

They were in the plane, going back to Delhi and until then Khushi hadn't uttered a word. She sat there, frozen, his hand in hers and hers around his waist. The silent reassurance that someone was there was enough for her. Just enough for her because she knew he was her Rinnie and she didn't want anyone else to be there for her in these tough times. Except he didn't know.

 

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Akash was standing there, looking lost as Diya stood beside the OT, peering into the room, trying to find someone who could tell her father was okay. He had never seen her so hapless and terrified. He was finding it very hard to control himself from going and embracing her. Her family was the only thing that stopped him. All the low pallus over the head told Akash this family was even more conservative than his own and he didn't want Diya's mother to have a heart attack by seeing some random guy hugging her daughter. He pretty much suspected it would happen.

 

While he was waiting, looking really out of place, Khushi came running in and hugged Diya.  What followed that sight was even more unbelievable for him as Arnav just ran in followed by NK, Lavanya and Chris. Arnav didn't even notice him standing there as he rushed to Khushi to give her support. Lavanya came up to him with a small smile, "I see you are out of hospital."

"Not really," Akash muttered as he gave her a hug, "her dad is admitted in the same hospital as mine and after whining with the nurse for whole 6 hours, she allowed me to come here."

"Whining and all, ha?" she winked before a somber, guilty expression masked her face, "Khushi's dad..."

"I know," he nodded sadly, "I have never seen her so scared..." gesturing towards Diya and Khushi. Both the sisters were hugging each other while Arnav just stood there, looking at Khushi with a pained expression.

 

"By the way," Akash jerked his head towards his brother, "what's up with him?"

"Looks like he and Khushi are a couple..." she replied with a small smile, "you should have seen the way he was consoling her all the way. No one could calm her down except ASR."

 

Akash's heart soared with happiness that his brother had found someone special in his life and it was none other than the crazy sister of his girl. Well, life was looking up.

 

"Glad to hear that!" he smiled, "can understand as he has no time for anyone else except her. Not even his half paralyzed brother."

"Oh shut up, AK!" Lavanya said, "None of them can recognize you in this avatar."

 

He smiled and nodded as NK came towards them, "Di! Who are you talking to?"

"Oh damn!" akash muttered as NK recognized him and screeched, "what the hell happened to you Akash" and that was enough to snap Arnav's attention at him instead of his sunshine. Within seconds, there were a series of expressions on Arnav's face as he rushed towards his little brother, "what the hell! What happened to you?"

"Relax, bhai..." Akash sighed as he gestured his brother to sit down. He was in for a long day...

 

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Khushi sat beside Diya, holding her little sister's hand. She wasn't sure who was comforting who. The only thing she knew was both of them needed the other, while Payal. Never mind. She never thought anything was more important than her career and she might as well think her father's accident was less important than new ways of making money.

 

Diya told that they had called Payal first and she still hadn't received any calls. Not finding a way out, they called Khushi in the wee hours of morning. While Khushi had rushed to Delhi from Goa, Payal found it very hard to cross three stops and reach the hospital. Even her mother found it pathetic, as she sat there cursing her daughter.

 

"Don't worry..." Khushi whispered, "Nothing is going to happen to him..."

"I hope so too," Diya whispered, "I hope those two realize your worth now..."

"I don't really care, Diyu..." Khushi sighed, "and you know it."

"Yes," Diya nodded, "but I do..."

 

Khushi smiled sadly as she hugged her sister, "I know you do..."

 

Their conversation was interrupted when someone placed a hand on Khushi's shoulder and she looked up to see Arnav standing there. Diya's eyes widened in another type of shock as she saw her idol standing there, looking as handsome as ever. But he had his attention solely to her sister. He just looked at her, asking a silent question and Khushi nodded. Okay, what was happening...?

 

But she didn't have time to overanalyze the situation as her phone beeped and she opened the message to see something that rocked her entire world.

 

An MMS of Payal...