Chapter 14 - Second chance

Note: I’m not from the medical field, so if there are any inaccuracies in those aspects, please take them with a pinch of salt and consider them creative liberties.

--*--

Dhruv and Anjali sat in the waiting room as a few patients were ahead of her. She had been coming to this clinic for years now, mostly with Shyam. Rarely, Mami ji accompanied her. But somewhere in her heart, she had always wished her brother would come with her. Not that Shyam did not support her. He did. He had always been a caring husband. But he was also someone equally affected by all this. And because of that, she could never fully let herself break in front of him.

She could not bring herself to tell him how deeply she longed for a child. Or how much she feared that even IVF might fail. Because she knew it would hurt him more than it already did. And she also knew it would shake his resolve. He was never very keen on IVF anyway. Many times, he had suggested they should stop trying or at least take a break. But she could never agree to that.

Some feelings, she knew, could only be shared with someone who understood her not just with the mind, but with the heart.

And that was why she had always wished Arnav would come with her at least once. Sadly, he had never shown any willingness. So having Dhruv beside her today felt unexpectedly comforting.

She glanced at him with fondness. He was busy typing on his phone.

Must be Khushi.

That thought took the smile away. Because it reminded her of all the things that had been bothering her for 5 years, of being a reason for Arnav-Khushi’s broken relationship, and guilt about casting Dhruv away. Was he truly happy though? With Khushi? He had told her he was when they met in Lucknow last month.

Still, she needed to know more.

“Khushi ko message kar rahe ho (Are you messaging Khushi)?” she asked.

Dhruv looked up, his eyes filled with concern. “Yeah, di. She didn’t pick my call and is not even checking messages. She never does that.”

Anjali gave a reassuring smile and gently touched his arm. “She will be fine, Dhruv. Shaadi ke kaam mein busy hogi (Must be busy with wedding related tasks). Don’t worry, she will call you as soon as she sees your messages, ok?”

That seemed to calm him a little and he nodded.

“Waise, can I ask you something?”

He slipped his phone into his pocket and said, “Sure, di.”

“I know that when you and Khushi, I mean when you both left Delhi, there was nothing between you two. Then how did you end up marrying?” she asked and instantly regretted it when she saw his face go pale.

But now that she had already broached the topic, she had to continue. So, she said, “Sorry, I did not mean- maybe I, I should not have asked this here. I just wanted to know if you married her out of obligation. You know, because of the guilt of what chote did?”

Dhruv sighed. He knew this question would come some day. But he had been hoping that day would be 20 years later!

Should he tell her the truth? That he had married Khushi when she was pregnant with Arnav’s child because he did not want her to face humiliation? But that was not the only reason, was it? In fact, it was not even the main one. He had married Khushi because he loved her and wanted to be with her if destiny was giving him that chance.

Besides, no one in the Raizada family knew about her pregnancy, so there was no point revealing it now.

So, he simply said, “It was arranged by her parents, di. And eventually we did fall in love.”

“You both are happy with each other, right?” she asked.

He knew he was. But was Khushi happy too?

Just then, Anjali’s name was called and they were asked to come inside the doctor’s cabin.

Dhruv glanced at the name plate on the door. Dr. Nidhi Tripathi. The name stirred something in his memory. Where had he heard this name?

But the moment he stepped inside and saw her face; he remembered exactly where he had seen her. She was the doctor Khushi had consulted during her postpartum phase.

Anjali, oblivious to any of this, sat down and placed her file on the table.

Dr. Nidhi smiled politely, took the file, and began making routine notes on her computer.

Then Anjali said, “This is my brother Dhruv, by the way.”

Nidhi gave a brief nod and turned to her computer again. But just as Dhruv sighed in relief that she didn’t remember him, she looked at him again more carefully.

“Mr. Dhruv Malik, right? Khushi Malik’s husband?” she asked.

Dhruv closed his eyes for a brief second in despair and nodded.

“How is Khushi doing now? It has been what, 4 years? Did you both try for another baby? And most importantly, did she take the Anti D injection?”

Anjali looked at Nidhi, then at Dhruv, completely confused. Nidhi already knew Dhruv, as well as Khushi. She was talking about their baby. And now some injections.

“What injection, Dr. Nidhi? What are you talking about?” Anjali asked.

Nidhi replied matter of factly, “Your brother and his wife Khushi had complications in their first pregnancy because the baby had Rh negative blood group while the mother was Rh positive. In such cases, the mother must take an Anti D injection. Khushi had not taken it then, and sadly-“ she sighed, “-we could not save the baby. But I had clearly advised them to take it later as a precaution for any future pregnancy.”

Anjali did not hear anything after that.

Because her heart simply could not take it.

The truth was too shattering. Khushi had been pregnant. And that child had to be chote’s.

Because she knew that Dhruv had a positive blood group, as did she and so did their father, Arvind Malik. Only Ratna Malik had a negative blood group, which Arnav had inherited.

And so would his child.

That meant she had not only broken Arnav and Khushi apart, but she had also, unknowingly, been responsible for the death of her own nephew or niece. What had she done!

.

The car ride home was filled with silence. The kind of silence that felt suffocating to Dhruv and refuge to Anjali.

“Di… say something. Please?” Dhruv finally said as the car slowed near Shantivan.

“What do you want me to say, Dhruv?” Her voice was low, drained. “I don’t even know if I have it in me to ask anything anymore. You both chose to keep such a big truth hidden.”

“Wait right there, di-“ he said in a tone that sounded wounding. “Neither I nor Khushi hid anything intentionally. Thik se yaad kijiye. Weeks after we left, did I not try calling you? I called so many times. But you never came on the line. How else was I supposed to tell you? And as for Khushi, she did try to reach Arnav. She called him, but he never replied. What more could she have done?”

Anjali’s fingers tightened over the edge of her dupatta. “So, you are saying chote knows?”

Dhruv looked away towards the road ahead, his jaw tightening. “I don’t know.” A flicker of guilt coming in his mind remembering how when Arnav came looking for Khushi weeks after the loss of the baby, but he didn’t try to tell him anything about it, rather lied that khushi always loved him (Dhruv).

And thus, he said again, “I don’t know, Di. And honestly, it doesn’t even matter now. We all have moved on in our lives. I wasn’t lying to you when I said me and khushi are happy. And arnav is getting married in a week. Please, just let this past go…”

Anjali didn’t say anything.

--*--

Khushi was waiting for Dhruv with restless eyes. She had seen his missed calls and messages after returning to her room where she had left her phone. She had replied to them with a tear-stricken face, still in the aftershock of the episode she had with Arnav on the terrace and had known Dhruv was with Anjali di for her doctor’s appointment.

But since then, her heart had been drowning in guilt. Guilt of letting herself break down in Arnav’s arms, asking him questions she had vowed never to ask, and most importantly, realizing Dhruv had been trying to reach her while she was there. Seeing his worry filled messages had only worsened that guilt.

Why could she not let her past go? It had been 5 damn years! She should have been thanking her stars that she had found a man who loved her so whole heartedly, so selflessly. Any other girl in her place would have worshipped him.

But she? She was still clinging to her heartbreak and her loss.

Dhruv had been patient with her. But for how long, right? What if he left her too? Then she would be left with nothing except her grief, her own mind taunted her.

Just then the door to their room opened and Dhruv walked in, lost in his own thoughts.

He was taken aback as Khushi suddenly came and launched herself into his arms.

“Khushi? What happened?” he asked, alarmed.

She just shook her head. But in her mind, she had decided she would only think about her present and future from here onwards. And that was with this man.

He did not say anything further but held her.

“Did everything go well at the doctors?” she asked.

He felt his heart drop hearing that question. There was no way he would tell her he had met Dr. Nidhi. That would remind her of that part of her life she still was not fully over.

“Yes.” He replied.

She nodded and separated from his arms.

And then, taking a deep breath, she said something she had been practicing for a while.

“Dhruv.” she said, dropping the ‘ji’, “I was thinking, maybe we take that vacation amma was telling us about. After this wedding?”

Dhruv could not believe his ears. Was he dreaming? Was he imagining?

“What did you say?” he asked.

She smiled. The happiness on his face was so worth it. “I think we should take a holiday. If you would like that is.”

He grinned. “Like? I would love it.”

She chuckled.

He looked at her face for a long time. Savoring her laugh. Wondering what had brought that. Anjali's questions were playing in his mind already and then his own words to her that he and Khushi were happy. He had answered on her behalf as well. Not that he thought she was unhappy, but he couldn't say for sure if that happiness was due to him. He wanted it to be though. He wanted her to smile for him, to laugh for him. He wished he knew.

And thus, without any preamble, he asked, “Khushi, you do not regret marrying me, right? You are happy with us?”

Her laugh stopped at sudden question, but her smile did not drop. Because perhaps, she was ready with an answer now.

Did she regret marrying him? No. Was she happy with them? Maybe not fully happy right now, she knew she would find it eventually. And thus, she replied, “I am happy to be with you.”

An answer she was going to regret. In not-so-distant future.

--*--

2 days later:

Arnav stared at the gold band on his finger. His engagement ring. So, it had finally happened. He was engaged to Lavanya. Had held her hand as he slipped a delicate ring onto her ring finger. And promised he would do his best to be a good man for her.

She was such a mature woman. Especially how she behaved, even after witnessing what happened 2 days ago on the terrace, she had not even once asked him about it again. Any other girl in her place would have become insecure. Would have confronted him about what he was doing, hugging Khushi like that.

But she had done nothing of that sort. Well, that was how she had been since the start, right? Even when he broke up with her the first time, when he realized, he was attracted to Khushi. Even when he was drowning in his heartbreak. She never left his side.

It was his turn now.

But before that there was one thing he needed to do.

And that was to get a full closure, a final one with Khushi. He would meet her alone, for the last time, and tell her he sincerely apologized for his actions from back then. And then wish her the best.

That was why he had asked her to meet him one last time. And she too had said yes. Especially after avoiding each other for the past 2 days, he guessed she too wanted to speak with him.

.

Khushi indeed had agreed with the same intention. After her resolve to make her marriage with Dhruv work with real love, she had spent last 2 days avoiding Arnav. But she knew they couldn’t go on like this. They never had a proper conversation, proper closure.

And thus, when he messaged, it seemed like the perfect idea.

She will meet him once last time and forgive him- even if he didn’t apologize. What she did back then was for his best, and what he later did- well that had to be let go now. So, she will wish him the best and then move forward in her own life.

--*--

A/N- Not trying to be cruel to stop here, but next part needs a separate chapter in itself. I’ll try to post it sooner than next Thursday.