Chapter 7
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[MEMBERSONLY]
IMPORTANT NOTE
Hi everyone! There is something important that I wish to share with you.
This story shall be ending in a couple of updates. It will be a bit rushed, yes. But I have to choose between that and not updating at all. I am facing a few unexpected challenges at present and wish to devote full attention to them. It might take a few weeks before I can post again, so instead, I am going to post 2 or 3 chapters, a chapter a day, starting today.
I had thought of discontinuing the story but I wanted to give you a completed one. So here's today's update. Hopefully, it will explain a few more things about ASR as we have known him.
I won't be able to reply to your comments, I am sorry!
Kindly ignore typos and such.
Chapter 6: Fresh wounds
Arnav woke up to the gentle caress of his sister. She was stroking his head, looking at him with eyes full of concern and love.
Though disoriented, Arnav cognized that he wasn't in a place he knew. He looked around and found Kailash mama nodding off on a plastic chair by the door. Anjali gently cupped his cheek, drawing his attention, and spoke softly, "Chhote! We are in the hospital right now. At Allahbad. Do you remember you were at the cloth market with mamaji when you had fainted?"
Wracking his brains he tried remembering what had happened. He remembered flashes of colors. Bright lavender.. white.. intense white.. the sun had been harsh. He shook his head, "Di, I think I must have fainted from the heat and exhaustion. But when did you come?" He was surprised that his voice appeared hoarse as if he hadn't used it in a while.
"I came in yesterday. We had been worried sick about you, all of us. But Naniji stayed back with mami and Akash. We could manage one train ticket in 'tatkaal'. Don't worry about us, though. How are you feeling right now?"
"Slightly weak. And I have a headache. How long have I been out?"
"Its been three days. Mamaji's friends had helped him bring you to the hospital. Chhote.."
"Something's wrong, isn't it? Again.. I can see it in your eyes, Di. Please don't try and hide it."
At that very moment, an elderly man stepped through the door into the room. He held a stethoscope in his right hand and a file in his left.
"Hello, Arnav! My name is Dr. Yagnik. I am a Physician at this hospital. Do you know how you came to be here?", he asked with a pleasant smile.
"Hi, doctor. I remember feeling faint and slightly nauseous. The next thing I know is waking up here."
"Well, I have already discussed your treatment with your family members, but I had requested an audience with you. We must talk, if you don't mind, in private."
Surprised, Arnav looked at his Di. Mamaji was awake and looking at him. He saw them take turns looking at the doctor and at each other.
"But you said they already know, then why the privacy?"
"Arnav, I want to talk to you. Not them. I want to know your concerns, not theirs. And I don't think that will be justified unless we are alone. I meant no disrespect."
With a slight nod, Anjali and Kailash left the room.
"Arnav, you have been diagnosed with a condition called diabetes. It is not life threatening, as it was earlier thought to be. We shall be able to control it initially with medicines, but as time goes on, we might have to switch to insulin injections. I know this is overwhelming and confusing. Let me tell you more about the disease.."
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A year later
He saw her looking at him. Her eyes.. beautiful and innocent. Pooja. She was a beautiful girl. Petite and long-haired.
Arnav had caught her staring at him more than once. He simply gave her a smile.
She was a student of a college nearby. It was not a high-and mighty one like his, but he didn't care for that. After all, if it weren't for his family and luck, he would never have made it to this level.
Arnav's previous 'dates' with other girls had just been fun. Nothing serious. What had started as a revenge ploy against Reva in high school, had turned into a habit of sorts. He enjoyed the attention women gave him. That was where it ended, though. He could never feel anything for any of them.
Truth be told, he was too busy to notice anyone particular at the moment and he doubted that with his family background any girl would entertain his advances.
He had promised himself some time back that his sole focus would be his dreams- he wished to fulfill the said and unsaid demands of his family. And he had managed working towards his goal while having some fun on the side. Harmless fun.
So why was it that Pooja intrigued him? Was it because she was good looking? He had seen better looking women than her.
Maybe it was because she shared a similar life to his- she knew what it was like to be deprived of luxury and work hard to provide for a family. He knew she could relate to his struggle.
With that in mind, a friendship and sprung up between them which slowly grew to liking. Arnav wasn't head over heels in love, but he definitely liked her a lot.
It was no big deal when she asked to be introduced to his family. He had talked a bit about his perfect, loving Di, his caring Nani and mami, his father-like mama. She had met Akash a couple of times and was charmed by his wit.
Arnav had decided that if his family liked her, he would ask her to marry him.
Unfortunately, while Pooja knew of his dreams to study abroad and the moolah his designs seemed to rake in, she did not know about his humble roots. Nor did she know about his family history. Whenever Arnav had tried telling her, she had always brushed it aside saying, "I don't need to know it, Arnav. All that matters is the present."
Regarding his family, all that she had to say was that would love them like her own. She didn't mind one bit that he cared deeply for them, sometimes giving them precedence over her.
When she met the family, though, it seemed that her dreams would end right there.
What was that house? If you could call it one, that is. And his sister had a limp? She looked too old to remain single.. and then they told her about the tragedies in the family, the sacrifices everyone had made.
After two hours of torture to her senses, Arnav led her outside. He told her about his decision regarding them. That was it. Pooja couldn't take it anymore.
"Arnav Raizada! You cheat! Why did you hide these things from me? You cheated my dreams! You said you had a loving and supportive family- well, they are leeching off of you! And your sister? How could you not tell me about your past?"
Arnav was shocked. "But I tried telling you! You were the one that said no! And how does that matter now, anyway? You know I am doing whatever I can to fulfill their wishes!! You understand that, don't you?"
"The hell I do! I thought that they might be understanding. But it seems they will demand money from you all their lives! Listen Arnav. I had thought you were a charming fellow. And that you would provide for me and make me happy. But it is so obvious that for you they matter a lot more than me! When you told me about your dream of going to the US to study, I had thought you had enough money to live happily. I was completely wrong!"
"What the hell are you talking about, Pooja! You knew how hard I have been working to earn the money that I have today! And why have you changed all of a sudden? This is not the girl I used to go out with!"
"Ha ha! Right! Because you see, that girl- the one you went out with- was nothing but an act. I had heard a lot about you. Tall, handsome guy, coming from DPS, studying at a Designing college and already a well known designer.. And I had thought you would be perfect for me! I was willing to overlook the fact that you had diabetes just to be with you. Your backward ideas had suffocated me from the very beginning, but I had hoped you would be swayed by my love. I was a fool to think you would change."
"But.. but.. what about your family? Don't you understand the hardships I have faced so far? I thought.."
"Keep thinking. What do you think, after these many years of wasting my time trying to do something to help my family, I would sit back and let my husband do the same? NO! I want to marry a guy who is rich and that money shall be only for me! I thought you could do that! But you.. YOU.. YOU DECEIVED ME!"
Arnav now had a cold look on his face. His eyes narrowed with rage and his fists were tightly closed. He was controlling himself as well as he could, because it was a girl, nay, a woman in front of him. Had it been a guy, he would have been beaten to death by now. "Don't you dare talk about deception. You vile woman! I thought we were alike.. That because you had faced hardships too, you would understand me and the way I live. I was wrong."
Pooja only spat at him, "Arnav Raizada! Hardships are a part of life. I would be a fool if I choose to accept hardships all my life. Regarding your family? I bet you deserved what had happened. In fact, I would like to go and meet that guy who rejected your precious di, and congratulate him. Sensible fellow.."
Arnav could bear no more. "ENOUGH! Get out of my sight before I forget my boundaries! Don't you ever contact me again!"
And so, he decided not to blindly trust anyone. He had earlier held a soft corner for 'strugglers' like himself or his family; but not again. While his decision had been to remain guarded, he didn't realise when it turned into arrogance. He didn't realise it had become a sub-conscious reaction over the years. He didn't realise how it was this reaction that would make him hurt the only woman he would ever love.
A few weeks later
"Nani! What are you looking at?"
"Arre, Arnav beta! I was looking at the birth certificate of your Nanaji. I was going through some things when I found it."
"So, this Prakash Singh Raizada is his father. Right?"
"Yes, beta. Why do you ask?"
"Kuchh nahi, Nani. I was wondering why we don't use Singh in our last name."
"Maybe it was getting too long to be fit into documents!" Devyani laughed.
"Nani.. I will be officially changing my name to Arnav Singh Raizada. I want people to know not only the connection I share with you, but my roots."
"Bhai don't you think that girl is pretty? Look, she's looking right at you!"
"Akash don't stare at her. And anyway, I know women more than you do. They all want the same things. Money and luxury. I don't have time to waste on those kinds of women."
"B..but bhai, not every woman is like P.."
"Don't."
Akash sighed. No matter how many times he tried, he could never get his brother to talk about that girl. She had done some major damage.
Arnav was checking his ticket and passport. That in place, he turned to his family who was waiting by his bags, with tear filled eyes.
"Arnav beta! Be careful when you get there! Don't trust strangers and don't talk to suspicious looking people. Specially those guys and girls that have those weird haircuts and ear-rings on the wrong places."
Arnav bit back a laugh, but Akash grinned at the description of a punk. Only his mother could say something like this!
"Mami, don't worry! Chhote is careful enough, you know that! And anyway he has Shravan to help him get settled. Hai na?" Anjali consoled her mami, hiding her own sadness behind a smile. She would miss Arnav!
"Beta, please let us know when you reach. The flight land in 20 hours, doesn't it?"
"Yes mamaji. I will call you as soon as I can. Don't worry. Please take care of yourself."
"Bitua, don't forget to take your medicine. And visit a doctor there if you need. Don't worry about us here, we have Akash and Anjali. Just concentrate on you goals. May Devi Maiyya bless you!"
With all this, and more, Arnav finally turned around and walked to the check-in counter. After a short time, he had a single bag on his shoulders, his passport and ticket in one hand, and a book in another, as he waved a 'bye to his family. Not once did he let his tears escape. At least not until he was sitting in his seat on the flight and looking out the window- looking at a city that he wouldn't see for the next two years.
"Welcome to New York, bro!" Shravan said as he hugged Arnav tight.
I hope you liked it even one bit..
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