Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Stubborn

As promised I'm back with the weekend update... not because I promised but because your comments made me realise that I value my life too much...

Thank you for all your lovely comments and like really appreciate the gesture...😳

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Khushi was enjoying the scenery outside. She sighed and closed her eyes to the soothing music feeling relaxed.

After a few minutes she felt something strange about the motion of the car. She opened her eyes to see that their car was going towards right rather than straight in full speed. To her horror she saw that Arnav had dozed off. There was a loud horn heard and she saw a speeding truck coming towards them from the opposite side. As the truck approached closer and closer, her eyes widened and she screamed, "ARRRNNNAAAVVV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Arnav woke up with a start and the first thing he saw ahead of him was the fast approaching truck. Their car by now had completely gone over to the right hand side of the road. It would have been impossible to get the car back to the proper side now and they were going to crash with the truck for sure. Arnav didn't have any time to think, as a reflex action he turned the wheel even more to the right. So now they were going towards an open field. The truck was barely a meter away from them when the truck driver managed to divert it a little. Yet the corner of the truck hit the rear of the car making it swirl in circles like the earth revolves around itself. Going round and round they were now drifted in the field. Arnav tried hard to turn the wheel towards the other side and slammed hard on the brakes.

After what seemed ages, the car came to a standstill. Khushi had her eyes wide open in shock. Her mouth was open as if in a silent scream. Every thing was quiet, deathly quiet. The truck had driven off not bothering to wait and check on them. Even she didn't know how long it took her to realise that they were off the road and in a still car, ALIVE. Finally she sucked in several ragged breaths and blinked furiously. She looked around taking in her surroundings but when she looked on her right at the driver's seat she saw that Arnav's head was resting on the steering wheel. Still slightly numb she stared at him for a long time but he didn't move at all. Slowly she started realising that something was wrong. She tried to touch him. Her hand was trembling madly due to aftershock of the incident but she still managed to place it on his shoulder and shake him a little.

There was no response. She tried to call his name but no sound came out. She cleared her throat with difficulty and tried again. "Arnav...?" He voice was barely audible as she shook him again.

Yet there was no response from him. She was starting to get worried now. She took many deep breaths and felt calmer after a couple of minutes. She opened her seat belt and pushed Arnav against the back rest of the seat. His head lolled sideways lifelessly. He was unconscious.

"Arnav? Arnav..." She patted his cheeks lightly. Her entire body was aching but she realised she didn't seem to have any injuries. However she couldn't say the same about Arnav. There was what seemed to be a nasty cut on his forehead that was oozing blood and a fast developing bump too. She ran her hand through his hair feeling the skin and found another bump on the right side.

She tried to wake him again but she too was shaken up badly and her trembling body was not helping. Somehow she turned around and managed to extract a bottle of water from the basket. She first herself gulped down a few sips of water and felt good enough to take care of Arnav. She then splashed some water on Arnav's face, a while later he stirred and blinked his eyes. His mouth opened and closed a few times. Khushi shook him slightly by the shoulder again. "Arnav can you hear me?" He didn't reply but slowly tilted his head towards the sound of her voice.

She held the bottle by his lips making him drink some water but when to tried to gulp down the water thirstily, she pulled it away from him lest he choke over it. She gave him a few minutes to relax and then asked, "Are you alright?"

He just nodded resting his head on the back of the seat. She pulled out the first aid kit from the dashboard then and began cleaning the cut on his forehead once she had bandaged it she started applying a balm on the bump.

"Sorry." He said quietly and actually saw her eyes turning stony, her lips were going thinner every second. Once she was done with his injuries, made him eat a little and gave him coffee which he accepted without any protest, taking in her expression. As he was done eating she got out of the car and stood with her arms folded across her chest with her back towards the car. Arnav too came out and checked the car, apart from a deep dent on the rear where the truck had made its contact, there was nothing else that seemed wrong. He slowly walked up next to her and stood wondering what mood she was in and what he should say.

"I'm going to drive for the rest of the way." He heard her speak after about 5 minutes.

"Excuse me?" He said a little baffled.

She turned towards him, looking at him in the eye and repeated calmly. "I said I will be driving now for the rest of the route."

"But Khushi I can manage." He protested.

"I can very well see that." She replied gesturing towards the dented rear of the car. "I'm not asking for permission, I am driving and that's final. Keys." She said putting forth her palm.

"Do you know how to drive?" He asked uncertainly.

She glared at him, moved back to the car and pulled out her handbag, rummaging for something in it. She pulled out what she wanted and stuck it in front of his eyes. "Here's my license now give me the damn keys."

"Khushi... please... I can drive." He argued.

With difficulty Khushi controlled her self from yelling and modulated her tone, "Fine... If you don't hand over the keys and get into the passenger seat right now, I'll call Nani and Di and let them know about the 'little adventure' that we had just now." She looked at his horrified expression and knew she had hit the bull's eye. He would never want his Di to know about this accident. "Keys." She repeated with her hand outstretched.

His jaw clenched but he couldn't deny that his head was spinning a little. Grudgingly he handed over the keys to Khushi she moved over to the driver's seat and waited for him. As he got in she started the car and turned it around. Making sure that the road was clear she got it up on the proper side. Arnav observed her carefully. She did drive well, he had to accept. Not as fast as him but she was one of those safe and smooth drivers.

"How come you drive so well?" He asked after about fifteen minutes.

"We had a car until Babuji got his first heart attack about three years ago. We had to sell it off for his treatment then." She replied stiffly.

"That's when you joined AR didn't you?" He asked cautiously.

She just nodded and stayed quiet. He too didn't speak after that, except for giving her directions.

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As soon as they reached at Raizada Guesthouse, the caretaker Mohan came running forward. He was very surprised to see Khushi driving and Arnav on the passenger seat. But as Arnav got out of the car a little unsteadily, he saw the bandage on his forehead and was worried.

"Arnav Bhaiya what happened? How did you get hurt?" He asked with genuine concern.

"Please Mohan Bhai, don't fuss." Arnav said and walked in the house and straight to his room.

Khushi came around and Mohan greeted her warmly and then asked her what had happened.

"We had an accident Mohanji, we narrowly escaped." Khushi replied.

"Accident?" Mohan asked shocked. "Are you okay Bhabhi?"

"Yes I'm fine." Khushi nodded. "Mohanji, is there a doctor that you can get. I have done basic first aid but it would be better if a doctor checked Arnav."

"Yes Doctor Singh lives just next door. He is a family friend, he must be home for lunch right now." Mohan replied.

"Okay please ask him to come and see Arnav." Khushi said.

"Alright." He replied. Mohan took there luggage in and went to call the doctor. Khushi made a call while she waited for the doctor to arrive.

~~~~~~

Doctor Singh was a kind faced man in his fifties. Khushi smiled at him when he entered.

"So you are the new Mrs. Raizada?" He smiled back at her.

"Yes Doctor." She replied.

"Oh, Arnav calls me Doctor Chacha since childhood." He objected to her address.

"Sorry Doctor Chacha." She smiled apologetically.

He patted her head. "So you guys had a small accident is what Mohan tells me."

"Yes and Arnav has a couple of bumps and a cut on his head." Khushi explained.

"And Arnav agreed to see me?" He asked raising an eyebrow. "He never does, for treatment I mean."

"Actually, he doesn't know I have called you." Khushi replied awkwardly.

"Oh dear, this is not going to be pretty." Dr. Singh frowned. "Let's see what I can do."

Both of them moved to Arnav's room. He had just come out of the bathroom after changing and freshening up. To Khushi's annoyance he had taken off the bandage and was trying to wipe off the blood that had again started to ooze from the cut. He turned to look at them as they entered in the room.

"Doctor Chacha is here to see you." Khushi said with determination.

"Hello Doctor Chacha, thanks for coming but I don't need to be checked. Sorry for the trouble." Arnav said getting frustrated.

"But Khushi, tells me that..." Dr. Singh tried to speak but was interrupted.

"I'm sorry, but I don't need to be checked." He repeated stubbornly.

Dr. Singh looked at Khushi who gestured him to come out of the room with him.

"Doctor Chacha can you wait for 10 minutes I'll convince him." Khushi said.

"Are you sure dear? Arnav doesn't like to be forced for such things." Dr. Singh asked.

"Don't worry about that. Just give me 10 minutes." Khushi said and he nodded and went towards the lounge on that floor.

Khushi came back in the room, closing the door behind her. She was fast losing her patience and had started to fume.

"Arnav what nonsense is this." She demanded.

"Khushi I don't need to see a doctor." He said not looking at her.

"I don't think so." She folded her arms across her chest.

"Khushi please, I said I don't..."

"Stop it Arnav." She all but yelled losing it completely. "What the hell do you think of yourself? For the past four days I have been asking you to take proper rest but you have been disregarding my words. This morning I said we'll take a driver along with us but you didn't listen to me. On the way I asked you to wait and take some rest but you still didn't take me seriously. And then what? You dozed off and almost got us killed. You have been hit on your head and I want Doctor Chacha to examine you and now you are again refusing. What are you trying to prove here? That how great you are, doing all this for me? Or are you trying to gain my sympathy by doing all this, so that I forgive you for all that you have made me go through? In that case let me tell you that none of that is happening here, just because I have been taking it easy for the last few weeks doesn't mean that I have forgotten what all you have made me go through in the past. The way you are behaving currently... honestly, it doesn't impress me and instead you are making me even more upset, if that is even possible."

Arnav stared at her shocked by her sudden outburst. "Khushi my intentions have never been to..."

"Oh really? Then what HAVE your intentions been? Why are you being so difficult and stubborn just to see a doctor?" She asked sarcastically.

"Fine I'll let him see me." He gave up finally gritting his teeth.

"Get on the bed, I'll call him." Khushi ordered and stormed out of the room.

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"Hmmm... There is a slight concussion and I can see that you feel a little unsteady too though I'm sure you'll deny it." Dr. Singh said suppressing a grin at Arnav's grumpy expression after dressing his cut again. "I'll prescribe some medicines but it is very important that you take a lot of rest for the next two days. Avoid sudden actions, lifting heavy objects, driving, etc. It would be best if you stayed put in this room to be honest. And yes don't take of that bandage again."

Arnav restrained himself from rolling his eyes.

Khushi came downstairs with Dr. Singh and they sat down in the living room as he wrote the prescription.

"Doctor Chacha he hasn't slept properly for the last four days and I want him to take proper rest." Khushi told him.

"I know how he is." He said shaking his head. "But don't worry; one of the pills here will ensure that he makes up for all the lost sleeping hours and also take care that he rests." He smiled conspiratorially at her and she smiled back satisfied.

Dr. Singh then surprised her by grabbing her wrist and checking her pulse while concentrating on his watch.

"Doctor Chacha what?" She asked.

"You may not have noticed but you are as pale as a ghost and your pulse tells me that you too are quite shaken up. Don't ignore yourself while taking care of your husband." He said while scribbling another prescription. "Here." He said handing it over to her, "This will help you recover from the shock and anxiety." He got up to leave.

"Uh... well... Doctor Chacha... your fees?" She asked awkwardly.

"I don't charge family. Keep that in mind for future." He said sternly and then smiled patting her cheek. "Just let me know if there is anything else." He said and left.

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About half an hour later Khushi came back to their room with a tray of lunch that had been made by Mohan's wife Sandhya and the meds that Mohan had got for Arnav.

Arnav didn't argue anymore and quietly ate the food and meds. Khushi's words had deeply affected him, making him realise how much his behaviour for the last four days had upset her. He felt even guiltier for hurting her even more than he already had.

After he was done he just casually glanced the time, it was 1:30PM. "Khushi it's time for you to leave for your meeting. Why haven't you got ready yet?" He asked wondering if she had forgotten about the meeting due to the accident.

"I have postponed the meeting for a couple of hours." she replied picking up the empty tray.

"Khushi you didn't have to." He said.

"I know what I have to do." She shot back.

"But won't your clients mind?" He asked.

"My client is a woman too. She can understand a delay of two hours since my husband has been injured in an accident." She replied and started to move out of the room.

Arnav felt really nice that for the first time she had addressed him as her husband.

"Um Khushi I didn't get a chance to ask before, are you alright? You are not injured right? You should have gotten yourself checked too." He looked at her worried.

She had turned back to face him, her expression a little softened, "Don't worry doctor Chacha did examine me down stairs. I'm not injured but he still prescribed something for shock."

Arnav nodded reassured. "I'll drive you to the client site." He said and she stared at him as if he had lost his mind.

"You are not allowed to drive. I have asked Mohanji to drop me and pick me up." Khushi said.

"I'm fine Khushi." He said. She didn't argue just sighed and walked out of the room. He wondered why the sudden change.

An hour later when Khushi came back to get ready Arnav was in deep sleep thanks to the sleeping pill Dr. Singh had prescribed along with the other meds. Khushi left for her meeting knowing that Arnav wasn't waking up any time soon; relieved that he was finally getting some much needed sleep.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Chapter 39: After Effects Of Sleeping Pills

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