Chapter 16
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[NOCOPY]
RECALLING ARNAV - II
Part 17
Khushi stood watching the cars leave the courtyard for Delhi, waving her arm, smiling till her limb and her cheeks ached. Then she quickly walked in to the house, making her way to her room.
Buaji looked at Garima and Sasi, worried for her Titliyaa.
"She should have gone with Arnav babua, Nandkisore," Buaji whispered. "What is the use of staying in two places after shaadi?"
"Let her stay here, Jiji," Garima smiled. "It will help her take a decision about her future."
Sasi nodded. "She... she has suffered... a lot. Let her decide... this time," he whispered.
The ladies nodded in agreement.
Buaji moved closer to Sasi to push him in to the house but halted in shock as Khushi came rushing out like a whirlwind.
"Amma, Babuji, Buaji, I am going to the shop," she said, a strained smile on her face.
Without waiting for a reply she rushed away.
The Guptas looked at each other.
"It is good that she goes to work, Jiji," Garima said. "What is the use of sitting here and moping? Let her keep busy."
Arnav called Khushi a few hours later.
"Khushi, where are you?" he asked.
"At the shop. Aur aap?" she asked.
"On our way to Delhi. We stopped for breakfast on the way," he said. "Tum theek ho?"
Khushi tried to smile. "I am fine. Why shouldn't I be theek?"
"Because I am not fine. Because I miss you," he whispered, moving away from the crowd of people walking in to the restaurant for breakfast. He looked out at the garden, at the fountain gurgling in the midst of shrubs laden with flowers.
Khushi felt her throat constrict with unshed tears. Finally she said, "Have you had your breakfast, Arnavji?"
"No, Khushi," he replied.
"Where are the others?" she asked.
"Inside. I am out, talking to you," he whispered.
"Go have your food. If you feel dizzy, Arnavji, you won't be able to travel further," she said softly.
"Khushi," he protested. "I want to see you. I am going to return to Lucknow now."
"Arnavji? No, you shouldn't," she protested half-heartedly.
"And who will stop me?" he asked.
"Bye! I will call you at night, Arnavji," she whispered.
Khushi clutched the pillow Arnav had used to her chest, breathing in his distinctive scent. Her heart ached at his absence and the bed felt empty and cold.
She grabbed her phone from the bedside table and called him.
"Khushi," his voice touched her as though he were in the room with her.
"Arnavji," she whispered.
"How was your day?" he asked, discarding the file in his hand to lean back in his recliner.
"Busy. Yours?" she asked.
"I went to the office as soon as I reached Delhi. Aman had slotted meeting after meeting. I got home at nine and had dinner, a pill for headache and my medicine. I was going through the accounts," he explained, his eyes resting on the stars and the moon in the sky.
"You work too hard, Arnavji," she whispered.
"I will cut back when you join me in Delhi, Khushi. I will make time for you and our family," he promised.
She remained silent.
"Khushi, the sky is filled with stars," he murmured. "Do you remember the night when you pointed out your parents to me?"
"Yes," she said softly.
"Khushi..."
"Go to bed, Arnavji. Shubh raatri," she said hurriedly before cutting the call.
Khushi blinked the tears away and buried her face in his pillow.
"Khushi, good morning," Arnav wished as soon as he woke up.
"Good morning, Arnavji," Khushi smiled.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked.
Khushi looked at the tangled covers and thought of her restless night. She parted her lips to lie to him but could not.
"I tossed and turned," he said, trying to hide a cough behind his clenched fist.
"What is wrong, Arnavji?" Khushi asked, worried.
"Nothing. Where are you, Khushi?" he asked.
"At home. I will be leaving for the shop soon," Khushi said, the frown still on her face.
Arnavji did not call all day. Khushi looked at the phone, worried.
"Maybe Jiju has a lot of work to do, Didi," Munna tried to comfort her.
Khushi smiled.
"Can he waste every moment of every day thinking only of you, Didi?" Krishna teased.
Khushi threw a laddoo at him.
Khushi checked her phone in the evening. There were no missed calls.
She called him. The phone rang and rang and then died. She tried again only to get a busy tone.
She quickly phoned Payal.
"Jiji, is Arnavji alright?" she asked.
"Yes," Payal said. "Why Khushi? What is wrong?"
"Nothing, Jiji," she said before cutting the call.
Khuhsi called Arnav again. After about a dozen attempts, he picked up the phone. His voice sounded strained.
"Khushi, is anything wrong?" he asked.
"Why didn't you call me back, Arnavji? Do you know how many times I called you?" she asked.
"I was caught up in work, Khushi. Sorry," he said.
"What is wrong? Your voice sounds odd," she asked.
"Nothing. Khushi, I am sleepy. I will call you later," he said.
Khushi waited all of next day but Arnav did not call. She tried to call him but his phone was switched off. Finally he called her in the evening.
"Khushi?" he asked.
"Why was your phone switched off, Arnavji?" she asked.
"I was in meetings all day, Khushi," he said. "Listen, I need to go now. I will call you later."
"Arnavji!" she called.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Are you sure you are fine?" she asked.
"I am fine," he replied before cutting the call.
Khushi stared at the phone, tears in her eyes. What was wrong? Why was Arnavji so distant? Why was he disinterested in talking to her? What was wrong?
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