Chapter 51

 

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBgQ8_PJ4JE[/YOUTUBE]

 

  "I cannot believe you have tied my eyes," whined Khushi as she sat in the shotgun of a car she didn't know the name. She just knew Arnav shoving her inside, covering her eyes with his handkerchief and zooming off.

"Well, surprises are called surprises for a reason. What is the fun in knowing where you are going and what I am planning," smirked Arnav as he drove on. He was heartily enjoying Khushi's discomfort with her hands tied back and her eyes closed.

"You know what," Khushi pouted, "I am going to sleep. You wake me up when your surprise is ready."

"Good point," said Arnav, happy that Khushi was actually going to sleep. It was so much easier without her smart brain butting in the logistics of his plan. He switched on the music and off they went, to their destination. The place where they started it all.

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Sr. Avantika had finished her evening prayers and was slowly making her way out of the church when a suave looking SUV stopped in front of her. She strained her eyes to see who it was in the backdrop of the setting sun and out stepped Arnav, with a big smile on his face. He ran to her, gave her a huge hug and said, "I have a surprise for you."

She felt so happy seeing her son after such a long time. What made her even happier were his eyes. They were twinkling. It was a great feeling to see Arnav happy after such a long time. There were a lot of times when he had smiled. But those smiled never reached his eyes. Today they did. She caressed his face and muttered joyfully, "it is so good to see you this happy. I feel so proud, my son."

"Well," Arnav smiled, "as I said, I have a surprise. So close your eyes."

"But," she tried to intervene, but he didn't listen, "no... Close your eyes. Come on..." and she had no choice. Seconds later, a pair of hands, soft ones met hers and she opened her eyes to see a beautiful woman standing in front of her. She was gorgeous, her hazels glowing in happiness. She looked at Arnav standing beside her, grinning from ear to ear. So finally he had moved on, she thought with relief. She smiled and said, "I see you have a girl, finally. After 15 years of pining and being alone."

"Well," Arnav scratched his head, "there is a catch," and as Sr. Avantika wondered, the girl in front of her turned away from her. When she turned back, Avantika caught her breath in surprise as the eyes staring back at her weren't hazel but a gorgeous green. The pair of eyes she would never forget in her life. She choked, clutching the girl's hands, "Chippu?"

Khushi nodded, her eyes welling in emotions that never had vanished from heart for such a long time, "it is your chippu."

Avantika was speechless. She didn't know how to react, what to say. She just hugged her daughter, the one who was born in her hands and clutched her tightly, afraid that god might take chippu from her again. Arnav stood there, wiping his tears. Avantika knew what this meant for him. Arnav breathed for Chippu, he lived for her and it showed because his breath was even again and he looked truly alive today.

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"Where, how..." she wondered again aloud and Khushi went on to explain what had happened. After Rinnie had asked her to escape, she had run from the goons who were paid to destroy the orphanage. While she was running, Shyam and his cronies had spotted her and chased her. She tried to escape them and while running, she had fallen into a crevice. Her scream had alerted Shyam and he started searching for her, but he couldn't find the crevice which she had fallen into. It was covered with leaves and mud and after a while, he had given up and gone back. What she didn't know was he hadn't.

She had made her way out quietly and reached the highway. It was dead night and a lone bus which circuited the city stood there, with the driver pulling out the flat tire. She reached the back of the bus, climbed the ladder and hid herself amongst the luggage loaded on the top.  By early morning, she had reached Dehradun main bus stand. While she stood there, hungry and helpless, her adopted dad had offered his help and she had reached Delhi in safe hands. She had tried calling the orphanage from Delhi but everything was burned down. She had even come to Dehradun but everything was relocated.

"What I don't understand is whose body was that which was brought by those goons?" Avantika muttered. "The girl had worn the bangle that Arnav had given you. That's how we thought you were gone."

"I don't know," Khushi admitted, "but I do remember that my bangle went missing. May be it had fallen down when I was trying to escape and some other girl might have worn it."

"Possible," sighed Avantika, "at least I am glad you are okay."

"Yeah me too," smiled Khushi as she rest her head on Avantika's shoulders. "I missed you so much."

"Me too, sweetheart. Me too..." Avantika stroked her head, "There wasn't a day where I didn't wish to have you back. It was so painful to see Arnav suffering so much."

Khushi looked at her Rinnie, the love of her life, sitting there smiling serenely. He had waited for her for 15 years even though he didn't know that she was alive. The power of their love was so strong. It hadn't died even after years of their separation. She didn't know what she had done deserve such a gem in her life but she was glad that she had him. She just held his hands tightly and smiled. He looked up, his eyes glowing with all the love he had for her and that was enough for her. For an eternity.

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Lavanya was still silent, her mind reeling from the kiss. When he had kissed her, everything just flew out of her head. She felt as though she had temporary amnesia. Chris just stood there, staring intently at her and she wished he would stop doing this. It was making her so uncomfortable because she didn't know what to say.

A part of her was really glad that he had feelings for her. A part of her was scared to admit her feelings. A part of her knew he was waiting for her answer and a part of her didn't know what was happening. She was confused like hell and couldn't understand the reason why.

She wrung her hands for the nth time and looked at Chris only to avert her gaze again. Akash who was standing beside her sighed and muttered, "Alright. Enough is enough. La... we need to talk," and without waiting for her reply, he dragged her by her hands and stepped out into the garden. Chris didn't follow.

"What is the problem, La?" he asked, "why are acting like a deer caught in headlights. You wanted this, didn't you?"

"What do you mean?" Lavanya asked timidly.

Akash rolled his eyes, "What I mean is I saw Chris kissing you and I know that guy is hell interested in you. You wanted it too; I can tell it by the way you look at him. So what exactly is the problem?"

"I don't know..." Lavanya confessed, "I truly don't understand what is happening to me. I am scared."

"To accept your feelings?" Akash said sharply, "I thought you had moved on from bhai..."

"I have," confirmed Lavanya. "I truly have. This isn't about Arnav. I am very happy that he has Khushi. Trust me. This isn't about him, this is about me... you know I love him but Chris has never told anything about love. He just said I..."

"So you are just worried that he doesn't love you the way you love him?" Akash smirked, "this is about the same situation repeating again, isn't it?"

Lavanya just remained silent and her silence was an affirmative. She knew she couldn't hide anything from Akash. He knew her in and out. She just wished she had gotten some idea of how Chris truly feels about her. If this was just a fling or attraction for him then she couldn't handle the disappointment all over again. She needed something concrete.

"You know what," Akash said finally, "I think you should give him some time. He likes you that much I know. Just don't have any further expectations. Just go with the flow. Date him for a couple of weeks and see if you can change his mind about how he truly feels about you. Love doesn't happen overnight, La... it takes time to build. Be friends first. Take it slow..."

"I am already in too deep, AK," Lavanya muttered, "what if he doesn't understand..."

"He will," Akash smiled, "all you have to do is trust him and give him his space."

Lavanya thought for a while. What Akash said had a point. Chris had told her he loves her when he was drunk. May be that still lingered in his heart. All he needed was some courage to confess his love for her. She had to give him that time and space.

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Ariadne sat inside the terminal of Delhi Airport, looking absolutely lost. She had come to India but she had nowhere to go. She didn't have any contact with NK, his previous number didn't exist and she didn't know anyone in this country. She felt truly alone, scared and helpless.

She had been sitting there for god knows how much time but she knew she couldn't sit there forever. She had to do something. Finally, she thought she could go to a hotel and stay there for a few days, until she figured something out. She wheeled her luggage and came out, hailed a cab and asked the driver to take her to a hotel.

The constant hum of the taxi lulled her into a false sense of peace and she drifted back to the times she had meant NK. Those were some glorious years. The joy of working beside him, the joy of getting to know him, sharing his passion for languages. It was heartening to see him give talks about his love for languages. It was infectious, his enthusiasm. It just took her few months to fall in love with him, his easy going nature, his wit, his humor, his zeal and his kind hearted personality. He was a man who was perfectly imperfect.

When they reached the hotel, the driver alerted her. She got herself a room and went and crashed, feeling totally spent and exhausted. She would search for him when she had energy back.

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Candles were lit, stars shone brightly, the stream gurgled happily and two lost souls walked the ledge hand in hand, finding themselves in each other. It had been years since they had come here. Their place. The place which marked their years of innocent togetherness. In Rinnie's hand was a copy of Harry Potter and The Philosopher's stone. Chippu was carrying a picnic basket that Avantika had packed for them. Both were giggling like foolish teenagers as they spread their blanket, away from the water's reach and settled down to celebrate their love.

As Khushi sat there, removing the food that had been packed, Arnav snuggled behind her, his legs on either side of her and pulled her so she fell on his chest. Khushi fell into place and that old rhythm was back in a tandem. In the combined glow of moonlight and candles, they started reading their childhood fantasy again, lying in each other's arms. Food lay forgotten and time was still.

After a while, Khushi looked up and smiled, "thank you for the best surprise. This is the best date I have ever had."

Arnav smiled as he caressed her hair, "Thank you for finding your way back to me. All these were waiting for you."

"I know..." and her eyes glistened in those silent tears of true happiness that was impossible to express. Arnav turned her around and kissed her tears away, "This is the time for us to be happy. Why cry and ruin the mood?"

"Tears of joy, you idiot," Khushi scrunched her nose. "You are so painfully blunt."

"Well, I didn't imagine our first date be something like an episode of a silly mega serial where the heroine is crying and thanking the god for bringing her lost love back to her. Sounds damn boring," Arnav chuckled.

"Oh Mr. Whiny..." Khushi sat up and pouted, "It's actually the ulta happening her. Don't you think?"

"I am not crying now, am I?" Arnav asked innocently. "I clearly mentioned our date."

"Oh you think you are so smart, aren't you?" Khushi narrowed her eyes. Arnav smirked before he burst out laughing. Khushi couldn't do anything but to join in the glorious laughter. It was years since the creek heard the sounds of the melodious laughter. The birds started chirping again. It seemed as though the creek gurgled even more merrily, stars shone brighter for these two had truly united again.

When their stomachs hurt from their laughter, Khushi moved back and started opening the food packets. Arnav poured the coffee from the flask, all the while staring at his girl. He didn't know what he had done to deserve her, but he was damn glad he had her.

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Akash turned around to see Diya smiling at him. Lavanya had just gone in to talk to Chris. Akash smiled back at her as she walked down the stairs and joined him. He felt happy to see her happy.

"Nice advice you gave back there..." she muttered happily, "I will be very glad if they hook up together. McKinley is a great guy."

"Yeah, me too..." Akash smiled, "god knows how much I have wanted Lavanya to fall in love again."

"Again?" Diya quirked her eyebrows.

"Yeah," Akash smiled, "She loved bhai but you know, he was always running away from her. God knows how your sister managed to win him."

"She was in love with ASR?" Diya's eyes were like golf balls.

"Why do you look so surprised?" Akash asked, genuinely worried.

"I was just cursing my luck. You know everybody falls in love with ASR and what do I have in my kismet, a silly bespectacled brother of the hottest bachelor in town. Rotten..." she winked.

Akash stood there for a second, trying to decipher what she had said. When the tube light finally lit up, Diya laughed at his expression and ran off, prompting him to hobble behind her. What he didn't know was that he late to catch up with her...