Chapter 21

Song Link

A Twist of events Ch. 19

Her long lashes lifted from the book she was reading as 8 year old Arnav woke up from a long sleep and walked groggily up to her. She set the book down as he cuddled into her arms, finding solace in her familiar smell, her familiar touch. She stroked his thick hair lovingly. When he opened his eyes, he found himself looking into deep, brown pools that belonged to his mother. He could never forget those eyes. Never.

Especially now that his own daughter walked around unknowingly with those exact same eyes he thought.

The memory continued. His 10 year old sister entered the living room and cuddled beside them. His mother put an arm around her too. After a while, Di spoke.

"Mummy...I don't wanna go to school today"

"Why beta? What happened?" his mother replied softly.

"Mummy, Akshay keeps making fun of me. Yesterday he said that my pig tails looked wonky. And before that he told me that I was fat. And he also said that Rukmini, my friend doesn't exist."

"That's because Ruknini doesn't exist Didi...you made her up" Arnav said cutely. She pushed him jokingly,

"Its not RUKNINI...ITS RUKMINI. Mummy! See! Im telling you...Rukmini does exist. And she so beautiful that no boys make fun of her. All the boys are nice to her." She said sulking.

Their mother put a hand on her chin and lifted her face softly,

"beta...your more beautiful than Rukmini". Anjali's face lit up instantly

"Sach?!" she said excitedly

"Mhmm...and you know beta...one day you will find your raj kumar who loves you for you."

"Not like Akshay who teases me all the time. hmmpfh" she said grumpily.

"Didi...Ill beat up Akshay for you." Arnav said. His mother laughed lovingly.

"No chote...Akshay actually cares for your Anjali didi...that's why he's mean to her." Arti said sweetly. Anjali smiled in understanding, as if she completely understood that logic. No questions asked. But Arnav wasn't so easily persuaded.

"Huh? Ma...that doesn't make sense. Why would someone like you if he's mean to you?"

"Because...they care for you"

"that makes no sense"

"Chote...one day you'll see...when I have my own raj kumar...youll have your own rani" Anjali said

"Blegh. No...I hate girls" a little Arnav said in disgust. His mother laughed.

"Chote..one day when your older, you'll understand. Now get up both of you, or you'll be late for school"

Arnav smiled at that fond memory. Times were so easy back then. Being a child, not having a care about the world, not being aware of the cruelty and darkness which lay hidden.

His mind wandered to Khushi. He now understood what he couldn't when he was 8 years old. He understood it all. What it meant to care for someone so much that the only way to prevent from letting them control your entire being was to hurt them. That someone who was willing to love had to be a big enough person to put aside all ego, all pride, all vanity. That they had to be brave enough to let their hearts be manoeuvred by someone other than themselves. He understood it all. He wanted Khushi . wanted her to be the one for him. He...he loved her.

Loved her and only her. He loved Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada. His woman.

His heart leapt at the realization. It felt like a huge burden was lifted from his chest. And she too...she loved only him..not Shyam. Or if she did love Shyam she would have never allowed him to get close to her. Let him touch her. He slapped himself mentally. How could he be so stupid? So extremely blind to not see right through her lie; when she claimed to love Shyam Why had he let her go so easily? Just like that?

No no...he needed to get her back. He needed her back.

His thoughts were soon disturbed by the cries of a child. He walked up to her, and picked her up, and tried to calm her. He went downstairs and fed her some milk.

She kept uttering "mamaa, mamaa" repeatedly. Arnav tried his best to put her back to sleep but to no avail. Tonight, this little girl wasn't sleeping.  So he kept pacing. Pacing first in his room, then later in the pool outside his room as the light drizzle ad ended to nothing, and just left a fresh aroma in its wake. The peaceful air of the still night seemed to pacify her.

"papa...where is mama?" she asked tiredly.

"mama will be back soon" he said with a new, optimistic tone in his voice.

"is she okay?" she murmured

Arnav lifted her a little so he could look at her,

"yea ofcourse baby..why do you ask?"

"because the big, bad men...did they take her papa?" she asked innocently. Arnav looked at her worriedly. What was she talking about? What men?

"Baby...what big men?"

"the ones that came to our house a few times...mama always took me to Sumi chachi's house when they came."

Suddenly, worry began gnawing at him. Someone was after Khushi? Men? Who were they? What did they want from Khushi? Is that why she had left?

A few hours later, Arnav was exhausted. His legs hurt from walking so much. And his throat hurt from the nonstop humming he had done for Shaila who had eventually fallen asleep after much difficulty. He could see the sky lightening as dawn approached.

He went inside the room and put her on the bed and fell asleep due to fatigue even though his mind was still wondering about Khushi. He wouldn't be going to work for a few days, not until Shaila was comfortable enough in this house without him. He couldn't leave her all alone in a place that was new to her.

All original work belongs to arshiforever123. Please do not copy.

[MEMBERSONLY]