Chapter 1

HUMDARD

Hello everyone. Here's a LONG😆 OS on Arshi. Its inspired by Ek Villian's song...Humdard. Hope you all like it and yes, the accent I have used here for Khushi, is an accent used in North India. They use JI at the end of every sentence. My cousins who live there do this😆 And it sounds so cute. So thought of using for Khushi.

Hope you enjoy it!!

"Kya karti hain ji aap?(What are you doing?)" a sweet voice scolded.

"Hum kya kar rahe hai? Hum? Aap kya kar rahi hain? Aaj hum ek lecture pehle chhot gaye, toh thoda ghume ke wajay aap ko jaldi ghar jaana..." (What am I doing? I? What YOU are doing? Today we got a lecture free and instead of enjoying you want to go home?)

"Accha ji? Hume jhoot bolna sikhaa rahi hain kya ji?"(Are you teaching me how to lie?) Khushi looked at her friend Khushboo. Clad in a red plain top and a long green skirt reaching till her ankle, with a long green scarf hanging on her both shoulder, her two beautiful umber eyes accused her friend. Her long flicks played with the wind to caress her cheek.

"Bataeye..."(tell me) Khushi's hands travelled to her hips.

"Accha, hume maaf kardijiye, hum bhool hi gaye the ki hum Khushi Kumari Gupta se baat kar rahe hai jinhone apni 19 saal ki zindagi main kabhi jhoot nahi bola hai, ab theek hai ji?"(Ok, I am sorry, I forgot that I am talking to Khushi Kumari Gupta, who, in her 19 years of life had never lied, ok ji?) Khushboo mimicked her friend.

Khushi giggled.

"Theek hai ji!"(It's ok...) Khushi took her friends hand in hers and started outside the gate of her university. The university was at a far good distance from the city, leaving the area around the university all green. Different trees surrounded the university, making the beautiful structure of university look more beautiful. But what she liked the most was the woods in front of the university. The vast tree-covered expanse looked so peaceful, just standing there, doing nothing, just whispering something mysterious, wanting others to decode the mystery.

"Khushi kya hua? Chalo.." (What happened Khushi? Come...)Khushboo shook her friend, who had stopped walking.

Khushi looked at her friend and then at the woods in front of her. But now-a-days what has caught her attention was that black car. It's not there when she enters the university, but it's always there when she exits the university. Her brow frowned. Does someone use the woods to park his/her car? But there's nothing in this area. It's just her university and the bus stand few minutes of walk away. May be the car belongs to someone from the university. Khushi concluded and was ready to resume her walk but stopped again. College has a big parking lot inside, that too with security then why will someone from the University Park their car outside in the open.

Khushi unconsciously took a step towards the wood only to be dragged back by her friend.

"Khushi, kya kar rahi ho? Kaha ja rahi ho?"(Khushi, what are you doing? Where are you going?) Khushboo asked, confused at her friends weird behavior.

"Khushboo, abhi aate hai ji, baas ek minute.."(Khusboo, I will just come, just one minute...) Khushi tried to dislodge her hand from her friend's hold.

"Nahi! Aap kahi nahi jaa rahi hain. Aap chaliye, humari bus chhot jayegi..."(No! You are not going anywhere. Come with me, we will miss our bus) Khushboo tried to drag her friend back, very well knowing her intentions. "Aap waha nahi ja rahi hai!"(You are not going there!) Khushboo ordered.

"Khushboo, please? Bas abhi wapas aajeyenge ji. Please?"(Khushboo please? I will just be back. Please? )Khushi pleaded. She just wants to see inside the car. Just once and she will be back. This is the car that haunts her sleep now-a-days. Its like...like someone is screaming for her help. And she wants to help.

"Khushi par?"

"Aap yahi rukiye theek hai, car saamne hi hai. Agar aap ko lagega ki hum musibat main hai to aap chilla ke kisi ko bula lena theek hai ji?"(You stay here, car is just there. If you feel that something is wrong then shout for help, ok?) Khushi asked.

Khusboo was not satisfied but knowing how stubborn Khushi can get, she reluctantly agreed.

"Bas abhi aaye theek hai.." (I will be just back..ok..)Khushi smiled and walked towards the woods.

Her heart thudded in fear, but too anxious to solve the mystery of the car, she still walked towards the car. The rustling woods, frightened her but still encouraged her to go ahead. Gulping, Khushi stood behind the car. Remembering her Devi Maiya and keeping one hand to control her running heartbeat, she gathered the courage to walk in front of the car. The car was close, the doors, the windows, all closed. Is no one inside? Khushi lifted her hand to knock at the door but immediately pulled it back. What if someone is really inside? With her heart thudding in fear, she looked ahead at her friend. Khusboo waved her hand at Khushi. Khushi waved back, assuring her friend. Afraid, but still gathering some courage, she lifted her hand and knocked at the window. She waited for few seconds before knocking again but got no reply. Dejected, Khushi was about to turn around when the door flee open.

"Amma!" scared, Khushi jumped back. Her eyes jerked up to look at the trembling hand on the car's door. It was trembling so badly. Her chest heaved up and down in panic. She wanted to run but it felt like her legs were glued to the ground. With her form trembling with fear, she lifted her eyes to look inside the car but as soon as her umber collided with two olive one, she stilled.

The red burning eyes looked at her, the head unsteady, keeping it upright with great difficulty. The pain there, the pain in his eyes was so colossal that she staggered back. Those eyes frightened her. She had seen these eyes somewhere? In her dreams, yes! She had seen these same eyes in her dreams. Khushi was about to run but as she was about to turn, to her horror she saw him losing his hold on the car handle and fell straight on the ground. Khushi jumped back. She stood there, just looking at the man lying on the hard ground. Soon the kindness in her overpowered her fear and she knelt before him. Keeping her bag aside, she caught his arms and tried to pick him. He was too heavy for her, still she managed to put him inside the car and buckled the seat belt. Khushi contemplated on what to do next. Should she call someone to help him or just leave him and go? She looked inside the car. Many glass bottles were scattered on the dashboard and also down. It was alcohol bottles, Khushi recognized with disgust. Some powder packets were also scattered around. Khushi's hand flee to her mouth. He drinks and is a druggie too. Khushi looked at him with antipathy. A man who has no mercy for himself, why should she bother for him. Shutting the car door, she picked her bag and ran from there.

"Ho gayi man ki tasalli?"(Satisfied now?)Khusboo asked.

"Ho gayi ji. Ab chaliye.." (Yes! Now come...)Khushi gave a last look towards the car and walked away with her friend to catch her bus.

...

"Khushi? Bitiya, aap ka bracelet kaha hai?" (Khushi? Child, where is your bracelet? )Graima asked to her daughter as they were having their dinner.

Khushi looked at her wrist. Bracelet?

"Pata nahi, Amma. Hath mein hi to tha...kaha gaya?"(I don't know, Amma. It was here..)

"Hey bhagwaan! Ghuma diya kya ji? Kitna mehenga tha, Khushi."(Oh God! Did you lose it? It was so costly, Khushi) Garima lamented.

Khushi racked her brain to remember if she had removed or kept somewhere. She was wearing that from years. How can she be so careless? After few minutes of thinking, she knew exactly where she had lost it.

...

"Khushi, jaana zaroori hai kya?" (khushi, is it necessary to go?)Khushboo asked as Khushi was about to go in the woods again.

"Jaana padega ji. Bracelet saach mein mehenga tha..."(Yes, I will have to go. Bracelet was really costly..) Khushi replied.

Gulping hard, Khushi braced herself to enter the woods.

Within few minutes she was again standing in front of the car. Sighing, she lifted her hand to knock at the window.

And like yesterday, the door opened. She looked at the hand, it was trembling but not like yesterday. She lifted her eyes to look at him. His eyes were inebriated today too but not like yesterday. Today he was in less influence of that intoxicating substances.

"Hum...Humara bracelet...kal humara bracelet yaha gir gaya tha. Hum dhoond sakte hain kya ji?" (My...My bracelet...Yesterday I lost my bracelet here...Can I search?)

The man looked at the girl standing in front of him through his loaded eyes. He looked at her petite form. She was saying something but he was unable to hear anything. His head rolled back as he slummed back in the seat, his eyes dropped closed.

Khushi looked at him as he rested against the seat and his eyes close. He lay there still. Khushi bend and pushed her head inside the car. She looked around for her bracelet. She kept her as far from the man as possible and searched for her bracelet. Her lips bloomed in a beautiful smile as she found the bracelet near his foot. Bending little more, Khushi took her bracelet but as she was about to come up, a hand landed on her waist. Khushi stilled, her head jerked up to look at him. She sighed in relief as she saw his eyes still close. Khushi moved her hand back to sway away his hand...

"Maa...Maa..."

Khushi stopped her movement and looked at him. And to her horror his hold on her waist tightened.

"Hum...hum aap ki Maa nahi hain ji...chhodiye hume..." (I...I am not your mother...leave me...)Khushi tried to dislodge his hold.

"Maa..." he tried to open his eyes.

Khushi fought hard to loosen his hold but it was like an iron grip.

"Chhodiye hume ...chhodiye ji..."(Leave me...Leave me) her eyes brimmed with tears, she stifled back a sob.

The man lifted his head, with his vision still blurry, he looked ahead. She ...she smelt like her. He brought her close to him and inhaled deeply in her hair.

"You...you smell like her...just like her..." he mumbled.

Khushi fought in his arms, earnestly trying to escape. But what he did next stilled her all movement.

Taking her fully on his lap, he buried his face in her hair.

"Maa...I want you back...I need you...come back...come back...please Maa..."

His broken and pain filled plea pooled more tears in her eyes. Her hand on their own accord lifted to bury in his thick hair.

"Woh nahi aayengi...unhone hume bheja hai..."(She will not come...She has sent me..) shocked at her own statement, Khushi looked down at his hair. As she kept staring at him, he lifted his face and looked at her.

"She sent you?" the man stared at her.

Khushi don't know if she nodded at him or not but seeing his face immediately relax, she knew whatever she did, he took it as a yes.

"That's why you smell like her..."

Khushi didn't know what to do or say to this man. She looked at the alcohol bottles and various packets.

"Aap ko...aap ko ye sab nahi karna chahiye ji...Aapki Maa ko aacha nahi lagega..." (You should not do all these...Your mother will not appreciate it...)Khushi doesn't know if she was talking to a fully grown up man who has arrested her in his arms or to a five year old. Well, a drugged man in nothing better than a 5 year old.

"She is not happy?"

Khushi shook her head.

"But...But I need them...I need them to keep me alive...otherwise...otherwise I will die...I will die..."

"Nahi. Agar aap ye sab lenge toh aap ki umar kam ho jayegi...ye jeena ka raasta nahi hai ji, khud ko maarne ka raasta hai.."(No. It will shorten your life...It's not the path which lead to life...It leads to death..) Khushi looked in his confused eyes.

"No...I need them... I need them...I ... Can't live without them..."

"Aap jee sakte hain ji...in sabke bina bhi ji sakte hai..."(You can...You can live without them..)

The man shook his head.

"No..."

"Agar aap ye sab nahi lenge toh hum aapse roz milne aayenge..."(If you will leave all these then I will come to meet you everyday...) What?! What the hell is happening to her. What is she doing? And why her tongue is not in her control today?

"You will?" The man asked. "Nobody comes near me...Why will you come?"

"Kyunki humko aapki Maa ne bheja hai..." (Because your Mom had sent me)Khushi replied.

"No...I can't live without them...something starts happening to me ... My hands start trembling...my mind is no longer in my control ...I need them...I just need them..."

"Koshish kariye ji...koshish karne wale ki haar nahi hoti..." (Try...If you will try you will definitely emerge successful)Khushi smiled.

The man stared at her for few good minutes before giving a reluctant node.

"Ab hum ja sakte hai ji?"(Can I go now?) Khushi asked.

The man loosened his hold and let her get up.

Khushi stood outside the car and bend to look at him.

"Aap ka naam kya hai ji?" (What is your name?)Khushi asked.

"Bhool gaya hoon..." and he again leaned back his head and closed his eyes.

...

"Khushi!" Khushboo shouted.

"Aap jaeeye ji, hum baad mein aayenge.."(You go...I will come afterwards..) Khushi replied.

"Accha? Aur aap ki Amma puchhengi toh?"(And what if your mother asks?) Khusboo asked.

"Keh dijiyega humara extra lecture hai, ab jaeeye ji.." (Tell her I have extra lecture...now go..)

"Accha ji? Toh ye jhhoot nahi hai?" (Ok! So this is not a lie, right?)

"Kisi aache kaam ke liye bola hua jhhoot, jhhoot nahi hota ji..Ab jaeeye" (if we lie for some good cause then it's no longer a lie)and with that Khushi ran in the woods. It was a noble deed for her. Like she was doing something noble. If she can drag that man from the darkness he is throwing himself than she is ready to even lie. She is helping a life here.

...

Khushi knocked at the window, which opened immediately.

The man looked at the fragile girl standing in front of him. Wearing a yellow top and a white printed long skirt, she looked beautiful. She was beautiful. Yesterday his vision was blurry but today he can see her clearly. The excitement to meet the girl whom he can still feel in his arms, whose sweet aroma still lingered in his car, had not allowed him to touch any of the intoxicating substance kept in his car.

Khushi smiled at him.

He tried to reciprocate the smile but he was sure his lips didn't even twitch.

Khushi's smile vanished. Here she is lying for him and he even can't smile. It's ok. Noble deed, Khushi. Noble deed! She reminded herself.

"Namaste, toh aap bahar aayenge? Chaliye hum bahar ghumenge. Aap ko aacha lagega ji..aaeeye.." (Hello! Will you come outside? Come we will have a walk. You will feel nice..come.)Khushi took his hand in hers and dragged him outside.

"Kuch boliye ji..."(Say something...) Khushi looked at him as they walked in the woods.

The man stared at her, not knowing what to say.

"Chhodiye ji ...Hum bolte hain...aapko pata hai hum aap ke liye kuch laaye hai... "
(Leave it...You know I brought something for you) Khushi removed a steel container from her cloth bag.

"Khana...chaliye khaate hai..." (Food...came we will eat..)Khushi looked around, searching for some place to sit. Soon finding one, they sat inside a huge tree.

Opening the container, she kept it in front of them.

"Khaeye..."(Eat..) Khushi gestured towards the sabzi and puri and saw him looking at his hand.

"Chinta mat kijiye ji, humare paas paani aur tissue hai. Aap khaeaye." (Don't worry, I have water and also tissue..You eat..)Khushi put a morsel in her mouth and saw him hesitantly putting one in his mouth.

Khushi lifted her eyes to look at him and saw a tiny piece stuck near his lips. Leaning towards him, she removed it. But as she was about to move back, she stopped immediately. The smell!

"Aapne aapna waada tod diya kya ji? ... Aap ne sharaab pee hai na? Hume boo aa rahi hai, jhoot mat boliye..."(Did you break your promise?...You are drunk...I can smell it, don't lie..)

"I...I...just little...to keep me upright..."

"Apne aap ko khaada rakhne ke liye uss nashili cheezo ki zaroorat nahi rehti ji..." (One don't need those intoxicating substances to keep them upright..) Khushi's shoulder slummed dejectedly. Here she is trying her best to keep him away from those things and he is trying to make her believe otherwise.

"I...I had taken that in morning...I didn't take anything after coming here..."

"Aapko subah wala bhi band karna padege...vaada kijiye..." (You will stop drinking in the morning too...promise me..)Khushi forwarded her hand.

He looked at her hand.

"I...I will try..." he kept his slightly trembling hand in hers.

"Try nahi ji...aap kar sakte hai...ab chaliye.." (No trying...You can do it...now come..) she got up, taking him along with her.

"Aapka naam kya hai ji?"(What is your name?) Khushi again asked him.

The man looked at her.

"Arnav...Arnav Singh Raizada..."

"Wah...aapka naam toh bohot aacha hai. Theek hai, ab hum chalte hai. " (Wow...your name is nice. Ok, now I will leave..)Khushi took a step away but again stopped and turned to look at him.

"Dekha ...aaj aapko aapka naam yaad hai. Aaisi cheezo se dosti kyun karni ji, jo apko aap ka naam bhula de?"(See...Today you remember your name...Why befriend things that make you forget your name?) Giving him one of her dazzling smile, she ran from there.

Arnav stood there looking at her running form. He don't know her. He don't know what she is doing to him. But he can sense the danger.

She is more dangerous than all the drugs and alcohols scattered in his car.

...

His hands trembled. He needed that. Something was dragging him towards it. He don't want to go near them. He doesn't want to. Still he can't help. He doesn't want to break his promise but found himself helpless. He needed it. His insides churned, eyes burning hot. Breathing became difficult. Where is she? He needed her. If he don't get her then they will drag him towards them. He doesn't want to go. He doesn't want to break the promise.

He needed her.

But she didn't came. She didn't came and the things which lay inside his car were successful in dragging him towards them.

...

Khushi ran in the woods. Her heart thudding in fear. The car was there but what about him? Panting heavy, she ran towards the car.

She impatiently knocked on the window. But didn't get any reply. She banged. And the scene which she had seen for the first time unfolded in front of her again. Bile like never before rouse inside her. She is a clam person. But she was not surprised. Because this man HAS the power to evoke emotions which are foreign to her.

"Rakshash! Aap...Aap ne wada kiya tha...Kiya tha ya nahi ji?!! Kiya tha na!!! Phir ye sab kya hai?!! Kya hai ye sab!!!" (Monster!! You had promised, hadn't you?!! Hadn't you!!! Then what is all this?!!! ) Removing her bag she tossed it aside, bending to his level, she took his face between her hand. "Boliye...Kaha tha na aapne...kaha tha na ki aap ye sabse door rahenge? Phir kyun liya...kyun kiya!! BATAEYE HUME! BOLTE KYUN NAHI JI!!" (Tell me...Hadn't you told me?...Hadn't you promised to be away from all this? Then why?!! TELL ME!! WHY AREN'T YOU SPEAKING!!!)Khushi shouted, her all understanding and calmness evaporated in thin air as she saw how this man had doomed all the progress they had made.

"You...You didn't came...you didn't came...and ...and I needed something...something to hold on...someone was dragging me towards a scary darkness...I don't want to go there...I needed something to hold...But you didn't came...You didn't came..." Arnav rasped, his eyes dropping close.

Khushi hugged him close to her. Her heart crying in his pain. When she started meeting him, she didn't knew what she was signing for. She didn't knew what she was going to do. She had thought she will give him a friend, a friend he need to talk to, share things with, joke with, laugh with. And eventually he will leave every bad habit. But she was wrong. She was so wrong. She didn't knew she was exchanging herself with all those toxic things. She didn't knew she was not only giving something, she was trading. But now she knows.

Now she knows it's either she or all those toxic things.

Khushi looked down at him. His face buried in her chest. Bending down she kissed his hair.

"Maaf kardijiye...hum bimaar the ji...isiliye yaha nahi aa paye...hume maaf kardijiye...Aaj ke baad aisa nahi karenge...nahi karenge...( I am sorry. I am very sorry.. I was not well. I was running fever, so I couldn't make it here. I am sorry...)

"Don't do it again...don't do it...I will die...If you will not come to me then I will die...I can't do without you...please...please...I beg you..."

"Nahi karenge ji. Kabhi nahi karenge..." (Never...I will never repeat this again..)

Arnav lifted his head to look at her sweet face. Lifting his trembling hand, he cleared the damp strands from her face. He took her face in his palm.

"I...I ...I lo...I love you, Khushi...Can't live without you..."

Khushi looked at him, shocked.

"Marry me...please?...I have everything... I can give you everything...I will give you everything, Khushi...please come with me...forever...please...I swear on you...I will never touch those things...just be with me and I will never touch those things...will never hurt you...please say yes...please...I will die...I want to live with you...please Khushi...save me..." he leaned his face close to her, breathing on her cheek. He stared at her trembling lips and lifted his eyes to look in her soulful eyes. But it was closed. He again shifted his gaze at her lips. Lowering his lips, he touched with hers.

Khushi's hold on his collar tightened as more tears spilled out from her eyes.

"Please...Khushi..." Arnav rested his forehead against hers.

Khushi opened her eyes to look in his pleading one. He needs her. He loves her. Does she love him too? She don't know. All she knows is, his life depends on her. He needs her, loves her. What more she wants?

"Please Khushi..."

Leaning forward, Khushi kissed his cheek.

"Yes..."

Arnav's unsure eyes locked with hers.

"Yes?"

"Yes.." Khushi smiled.

"Thank you...thank you, Khushi...Thank you...I owe you my life...Thank you...Never leave me...Please...I will die..." He showered her face with kisses.

"Nahi jayenge ji" (Will never leave you) Khushi promised.

Last part

[MEMBERSONLY]

sphobic2014-06-09 07:20:11