Chapter 5

She came in and their eyes met. They stood looking at each other's eyes lost in the world where their life journey is going to take an unexpected turn. They kept looking each other. Their trance was broken by anjali voice. Hearing her voice both looked everywhere except the opposite. Anjali recognized kushi and asked her while kushi is looking somewhere..

Anjali: aap vahi hai naa… the one with your bags…

Kushi saw her and immediately rushed to anjali. She held her shoulders and asked

Kushi: aap? Aap yaha kya karre? How your health? You know, I got so much worried seeing you unconscious. How can you go alone..?

Kushi spoke without break...Anjali smiled at her concern, the girl cared for her just like her chote does. She could feel the worry for her in the girl's eyes. She held kushi hands and

Anji: I'm fine…I just got dizzy…I came here to thank you…if you are not there…

By the time anjali completed her sentence kushi nodded and gesturing her to stop

Kushi: no…nothing is going to happen. Because god Is with you, that's why he sent me there. If not me he would have sent someone else..So don't thank me.

Anjali smiled with gratitude

Anjali: are haan I'm anjali..Anjali raizada..And he's my brother arnav.

Arnav is watching the scene keenly. He thought how com a stranger can help her di without even knowing her name. He wondered whether she care for all the other's like that..Suddenly he heard his name from di mouth and his thoughts broke and he saw the girl looking at him. He was so numb and didn't know what to do.

Anjali: aap kaun? Meri mathlab aap ki naam?

Kushi banged her head and told her

Kushi: maaf kijiye..I'm kushi..Kushi Kumari gupta..

"Kushi" nice name thought arnav. He mentally stored the name in his brain memory making sure it wouldn't delete that easily.

Saying that she went and hugged anjali. Anjali hugged her back in loving way. The duo pulled away

Kushi: it's nice to see you here. Did you see the convent?

Esther: no kushi…we just walked here and there. You show her and keep talking. There's someone waiting for me in the chapel…Esther left them.

Kushi and tinky led their way. Kushi did not dare to look at him. She felt so strange seeing him. She silently moved before them. Anjali broke the silence

Anjali: so you work here?

Kushi stopped at once. She kept silent for some time and replied

Kushi: no this is my home, we live here.

Anjali and arnav looked at each other in a slight confusion. Kushi understood their face and replied

Kushi: we are orphans..This is an orphanage.

Tinky completed kushi sentence adding that

Tinky: cho we all live here only.

Anjali eyes welled up with tears, even arnav was moved. He did not expect that kushi is orphan. Even he felt bad for tinky.

Anjali: I'm sorry..i did not mean to

Kushi: no its okay anjali ji. Koi baat nahi. We have to accept some truths. Kushi assured that she is not hurt and she is fine. She cheerfully said

Kushi: and who said we have no one? We got parents here, parents got children and old people got grand children. We are all one family.

They reached a big tree. There was complete silence. Arnav managed to uttered

Arnav: then how come you here? I mean who brought you here?

Kushi smiled sadly and replied moving forward feeling the air and gathering strength to stay strong. She took a deep sigh

Kushi: I don't know but Esther maa told that I was found near…kushi gulped and waited for sometime... An accident spot. My parents died in the car accident. I was found when I'm five exactly tinky's age. The car was burning and my parents were in that car. At the same time Esther maa ji and buaji were passing in the auto. They brought me here and raised me up. After some days my cha-cha came for me. They thought he will take care of me but he is money minded person. He tried to sell me off. But luckily by god's grace police caught him and brought me back here. After that I never went to my chachi too. I didn't even know my name. Through cha cha's name I came to know he is a gupta. Maa ji told that I was always happy and made other's smile. So they named me as kushi. But I'm thanking full to god for giving me this big family. We all are Christians and we trust in god. It's all his grace that we are alive and got a family.

Anjali was almost in a verge of crying and hugged kushi tightly. Kushi hugged her back with same force. They don't know each other in fact they met few mins back but the travelled in the same boat of life. They cried silently and tinky too joined them. She hugged their legs as she can't reach them. Anjali pulled back, hugged tinky and kissed her. Kushi gave anji an hand kerchief and tries to smile assuring that all is well.

Arnav was silently crying making sure no one noticed his tears. He did not like the fact that his coldness is breaking. He has to be strong. He asked her rashly

Arnav: what's the use of all these prayers? Not only you, even my di, you guys spent hours of time in praying to so called god hoping that he will hear you? If he really love s you why will he give you these problems?

Kushi smiled at him and replied

Kushi: of course, everyone pray to god. Yet we have problems. Because god wants to test us, if he gives any problem then he will give the solution. All we need is patience and courage to fight and withstand. We need to be daring enough to face all the seasons of life. Be it good times or bad times if you wish you never have worries and problems in Ur life, it means that you are scared…Scared to face it and fight it. We need to face the problems so that they will make us strong. If we run away and lock ourselves we will gain nothing but sorrow and coldness.

Arnav is spell bound. The words exactly meant for him. He wondered how she can read his mind. Is he doing the same thing? Running from life? No, he is not scared. Arnav sigh raizada is scared of nothing. I'm not weak. He made himself firm making sure that her words won't affect him.

Anjali: then kushi ji, who runs this orphanage? How you maintain the finances?

Kushi: well, hope is an organization and also has many branches all over India. We have school nearby so all the kids here study without fees. And for old people, their children will send them money every month. But now we lost many of our funders. The world is selfish to help others. So we started doing part time jobs with our talents. I and the other girls teach tuitions and painting classes. All the kids prepare greeting cards and sell them off. Buaji is expert in making sweets. I help her too; we get orders from parties and functions. So we make our own livelihood. Our mother head is Esther maa; she manages the rest of the things.

Anjali: really kushi ji, I feeling very happy coming here and meeting you all. I can feel the warmth of all. When I came here, first I thought that there is only joy here, but now, you guys share both joy and sorrows with each other. You are really lucky. This home, the gardens, the birds, the people and the warmth of love…I feel so good and.

Anjali placed her hand on her belly and caressed her baby

Anjali: seems like my baby likes it too.

Kushi cheerfully went and asked hesitantly

Kushi: can..Can I touch once? Doe he kicks?

Anjali took her hand and placed it over her stomach

Anjali: well she doesn't kick for now…I think its she..i want a princess

Kushi: whatever anjali ji, we want a healthy baby. God will defntly bless you. I'll be praying for you.

Anjali: thank you

Kushi: aree now we both became friends so no thanks. Whenever you need a help call me. I'll do the least I can do..And please tell me when she kicks I want to feel it... I think you may be feeling magical anjali ji, another life growing in yours, feeling each other's heartbeat..And when the baby comes out..How wonderful that can be!

Anjali: (smiling) seems like you love baby's kushi ji, when for some time, when you'll get married and conceive then you can experience it. It's really a wonderful feeling

Hearing anjali words kushi's facial expressions changed. Some kind of pain occupied her heart. The fact that she is a nun and can't have a family made her feel sick first time. When Esther has told her about having a family she did not feel any pain. For the first time she felt bad.

Arnav and anji saw kushi lost in her thoughts. Especially arnav noticed her expressions, some kind of confusion and sadness. He took some steps forwards near her and asked with his famous husky voice

Arnav: tum teek ho?

Kushi's chain of thoughts broke by his husky voice. His voice occupied her ears and brain. She slowly moved her eyes to his face and nodded. Arnav gave a slight smile.

Anjali: well kushi ji...it was very nice to meet you. I wish my nani and other's could meet you too. Why not come to our home once

Kushi was about to nod no but anjali interrupted her

Anjali: no kushi ji, please don't say no. if you come we can have nice time with my family. We can have fun. And I liked tinky so much. She asked tinky

Anjali: tinky, you won't come to my home? Anjali asked her in tinky's baby language.

Tinky: I will come didi but not alone. If kushi didi come I will come otherwise no.

Kushi: no tinky tomorrow ram kaka will drop you. U spends time with them and come back. Okay. You know naa I'm busy..

Tinky pouted her lips and replied stubbornly winking at anjali. She folded her hands across her chest and turned her head to the other side acting all angry. Kushi tried to convince tinky and anji but both are equally stubborn. Then she heard the same husky voice again.

Arnav: come kushi. We will make you feel home.

She dared not to look into his twinkling chocolate brown eyes. She thought for some time and nodded in approval. Tinky and anjali squealed and clapped their hands. Kushi found anjali so sweet and saw a kid in her. Then she realized tinky can't go the next day.

Kushi: but tinky, you need to first complete your holiday homework's and remember? You are going along with sister nirmala to other orphanage naa? If you go early in the morning and come back at night, how can you go to anji ji home?

Tinky pouted again frustratingly but she know she has to do homework otherwise buaji will kick her. So she made up her mind and turned towards anji. She replied catching her ears in a sorry manner

Tinky: sorry anjali ji, I have to finish my homework's naa. Next week ill come.pakka.

Anjali hugged tinky and tinky kissed her cheek. Anjali felt aww and kissed her too. Arnav and kushi stood there seeing the duo loves bonding. Anjali and kushi exchanged their numbers and led them to say good bye.

Arnav felt the time passed so soon and didn't feel to leave her. Kushi saw him from the corner of her eyes but didn't speak to him. Arnav helped anjali in the car and tinky ran. Kushi was strolling when she heard him again she slowly turned back.

Arnav came forward and raised his right hand. Kushi saw him with confusion , he slowly released her duppata gesturing her to take. She hesitantly pulled it and ran from there not looking at him back. His lips curled into unknown smile and left to drive.

AT NIGHT

Esther: got call from ooty.They are asking to come, told them we will go later..What say kushi?

Kushi was applying ointments to Esther's swollen legs but lost in her thoughts. Only thing occupied in her mind was his eyes…her sketch..is it a coincidence? Or meant to be? She was fighting with her brain and heart. She felt a gentle touch on her shoulder and snapped back from thoughts. She saw Esther looking at her worriedly

Esther: kushi betiya, are you okay?

Kushi tried to show her best smile and cheered

Kushi: haan maa ji, I'm fine just thinking bot….about something else…leave it. Acha yeh batayiye when we are going to ooty

Esther got satisfied with kushi's fake smile and leaned back on the chair, removing the specs and replied

Esther: not now kushi..We don't have many expenses and we need to pay the rent to stay there in the convent. I asked them to hire new trainers after two months we will go.

Kushi smiled and slept on esters lap and she {Esther} ran her fingers through kushi's hair lovingly. She asked in low caring tone

Esther: kushi, is everything okay.Let me tell you something, if something sticks to your mind and can't stop thinking about it doesn't worry…everything happens for a reason and purpose. God will take care of the rest.Okay?

Kushi replied back

Kushi: yes maa ji. Before Esther could talk further kushi slowly stood up and started to walk towards her room. The same duppata fell over her face again from the window. She slowly removed it and caressed it. She felt like the duppata is the most special thing and moment in her life. She opened her cupboard and placed it safely in the corner neatly.

She went to her painting room and closed the door. She took hold of the sketch and stared the skies from the window. The cold breeze and the fragrance of the night queen..she enjoy them every day. She closed her eyes looking at he stars and the same eyes flashed in her mind making her heart skip a beat. She glanced back at the sketch and kept it back in the place.

Remembering mother heads words

"Let me tell you something, if something sticks to your mind and can't stop thinking about it doesn't worry…everything happens for a reason and purpose. God will take care of the rest. Okay?"

She took a deep breath and spoke to her self

"Kushi Kumari Gupta, till now you did not experienced this weird feeling, now why? There is no purpose, no reason, just a co incidence.Remember that word kushi co incidence. You helped her she came back to thank you. That's it and from tomr you won't even remember them and especially his eyes.They meant nothing to you. Just a coincidence kushi, just a coincidence"

Uttering those words she drifted to sleep

AT NIGHT, RM

Over all, the day was very pleasant with warm faces and loving greetings. Though he gets irritated, the old people seemed gracious to arnav. And the kids...What's her name some tinny.. She blabbers a lot.He rolled his eyes thinking about her introduction telling them her name class and roll no. but his lips curled into blissful smile when he thought about kushi…nice name. He closed his eyes and remembered her words

"We need to be daring enough to face all the seasons of life"

"If you wish you never have worries and problems in Ur life, it means that you are scared…Scared to face it and fight it."

Her words hit his heart directly. He questioned himself of his life, his coldness. Is he running away from life? Running just because of some b**ch. He eyes showed red color thinking of all those things again, the betrayal, the fake love...Everything turned his world upside down, from a loving person to ruthless monster. But the orphanage, he experienced the real warmth of hearts which was broken. Their lives were burnt but still they managed to stay happy spreading joy and sharing sorrows. He felt strange seeing their lives, how they manage financially. He had a strong feeling to help them

Suddenly an idea popped in his mind. This can make him meet the girl and also help them. He removed his cell and called his fav person AMAN

hope u enjoyed...next part will be updated on thursday...and hints will be posted tomr or day after

love

blessy