Chapter 21
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OS 1 : Knowing Khushi
Part 11
Arnav looked at Nani, Mami, Akash, & NK as they sat around Di, their faces weary, fatigue seeping from their souls as they watched Anjali sleep'' They had summoned a doctor to sedate her, to let her rest, to let her forget the hell her life had become''..
Her face still had marks of the never-ending stream of tears she had shed. Arnav slowly wiped her face with his hanky. If only he could clear her mind of Shyam Manohar Jha too''.
There was nothing more to be done here. Di would sleep through the night. Arnav slowly left the room, walking towards the steps down.
He stood for a moment, looking down at his house''the elaborate lines, the expensive furnishings, the elegant furniture, the designer interiors''. He had made it all. By working day & night for years. Because he had wanted to make his Di happy, his family safe. And at the age of 28, he was back where he had started out. His Di was still crying, his family was still vulnerable'' What had he gained in the past 14 years?
He sat on the steps, his elbows on his knees, his head hanging, defeated. Suddenly, her face came to his mind. The red sari, wind playing with her hair as she said in a matter-of-fact manner,
"She has you. She will survive. You will make everything alright."
"Khushi'", he murmured.
He pulled out his phone to call her. It was 40 minutes past 12. How could he'? She would be asleep'..But if she was awake'?
Maybe he could text her. If she was awake, she would reply. And then he could call her'.
He texted her, 'Are you awake?'
"Yes.' The reply was immediate.
Arnav sighed in relief. He quickly called her.
"Hellooo. Arnavji, how is Anjaliji?", Khushi asked.
Arnav swallowed.
"She was crying too much. Wouldn't stop. We were scared that she would fall ill. So we got a doctor to give her a sedative. She is sleeping now.", Arnav said.
Khushi could feel a rock lodge itself in her throat.
"She will come out of this. She has to.", Arnav said, more to himself than to her.
"She will. Anything is better than letting her live with that rascal without letting her know the truth.", said Khushi.
Arnav nodded.
"It may take time. But she has you. And she has Nani, Mami, & 2 more brothers. She will live again.", Khushi comforted him.
"Yes. She has to.", Arnav said.
"Arnavji, it is late. You should go to bed.", Khushi said.
Arnav agreed but did not cut the call. He sat with the phone at his ear, his eyes shut.
Finally Khushi said, slowly, "Life is so funny'so strange'..like a dream at times'like a nightmare at other times''.."
Arnav swallowed, feeling tears gather in his eyes.
"Sometimes it feels that everything is going my way'like seeing questions I know the answers to in the exam paper. Sometimes, I don't know where I am'on my head or on my feet''"
"Hhmmm'", Arnav responded. Anything more was beyond him.
"Buaji & Amma are crying. Jiji thinks that I am very disappointed about Shyamji. The house looks as though someone has died here''"
"Here too.", Arnav said. "Khushi, can I call you tomorrow?"
"Shall I write a permission slip for you, Banke Lalji?", Khushi asked, a small smile on her lips.
Arnav smiled.
"It is your phone, your time, your money'. If you want to waste it on me, the Jalebi Express from Lucknow, who am I to complain?", Khushi teased.
"Tomorrow, Khushi.", promised Arnav.
"Tomorrow it is.", said Khushi.
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