Chapter 42

-Archi-

@-Archi-

Hi guys,

I know I'm late I fully intended to post on Wednesday, but i was in the middle of moving out of my apartment and so, lost my internet connection. I am really sorry! I tried to make this chapter extra long to make up for the delay!

Silent Whispers

-CHAPTER FORTY-

Cupid is Painted Blind

"Almost there... just two more steps."

Anjali felt her determination slip as pain spread sharp from her stiff muscles. "I can't," she heaved, letting her knees buckle under the weight of her body.

"No," Shyam protested. "Just one more!"

She gulped, trying to maintain her grip on the crutches holding her up. "No... I-"

"Come on, one step!"

There was no point. Even before she could completely lift her right leg off the floor, her sweaty hands gave away and all too soon, she was falling to the ground. She yelped, her heart falling through the floor, when she felt his arms enfold around her, catching her just in time.

"I got you," he murmured, hugging her close.

Anjali felt tears pool in her eyes.

It was all over; she was never going to walk again. Ever.

"It's okay," Shyam said, somehow understanding her despair. "It's only been three days."

She bit her lip, trying hopelessly to rein in her frustration.

It had been almost a whole week since her cast was removed, a whole month later than it should have been, and she was yet to stand on two feet without support. While the doctor wrote her troubles off as simple weakness and prescribed daunting exercises as such, Anjali was sure it was something much more. With each passing day, her hope of finally being free of a wheelchair only seemed to dim.

Of course, to Shyam and not to mention her brothers, her increasing anguish appeared to only raise their hopes. Without fail, all of them made sure she completed her daily dose of workout. Today, a sunny Tuesday afternoon in the Shantivaan, it was Shyam's turn.

"It's been a week," she muttered, leaning away from his comforting embrace.

He cupped her face. "Anj-"

She shrank from his touch, not wanting to hear his assurances. In fact, she didn't want hear anything.

"Look at me," he ordered, his hands tightening around her waist, locking her in his arms.

She adamantly kept her eyes on the floor.

"I know you think you can never walk again, but it's only been three days. You went through a major surgery - your body needs time to recover from something like that, so please stop thinking about the worst."

"Easy for you to say." Anjali didn't even know when the words snapped out of her.

He paused. "I know, but-"

"But what?! Do you think I'm blind or something? Do you think I can't see that you are giving me false hope, just like Bhai and the stupid doctor, when I know I'm never going-"

"You don't know-"

"DAMN IT SHYAM!" she bellowed, loosing what little patience she had left. "Don't you get it?! I'm done! Nothing is going to fix this!"

He didn't react.

"It's been three months! Three whole months since I walked! First, they said the bone healed all wrong so they broke it like it was nothing more than a stick. Now they are saying the muscles are too weak. And tomorrow they are going to say the muscles are okay, but something else is wrong. Don't you see the pattern? I'm never going to get better!"

Shyam was quiet.

"So, just stop with the stupid motivational speeches, okay? They may work with your clients, but not with me. So, do us both a favor and- Let. Me. Go."

"No."

She couldn't believe her ears. "What?!"

"No, I'm not going to let you go until you walk to that table like you are supposed to."

It would be an understatement of the century if you said Anjali was furious. Staring into Shyam's cool expression and not to mention, listening to calm voice, made her so angry that all she wanted to do was to get as far away from him as possible.

"I am not supposed to do anything," she answered, trying hopelessly to imitate his unfazed demeanor.

He didn't budge. "Yes, you are. The physiotherapist was very clear-"

"To hell with the physiotherapist!" she screeched, her voice once again reaching an all time high. "We have been trying this for two freaking hours! I can't even stand without shaking! How the hell do you expect me to walk to that stupid table?"

"Try."

She stared at him, incredulous.

He seemed to understand her thoughts too well, for he gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and said, "I'm not leaving Anjali. By all means, you can continue yelling at me or burst into tears, which I know you will if I don't relent... but I'm not leaving. Not until you walk to that table, like we decided to in the first place."

She took a deep breath. "If you don't let me go," she said defiantly. "I'm going to call Hari Prakash and tell him to take me back to my room."

Shyam raised an eyebrow. "Are you threatening a lawyer Ms. Raizada?"

She stubbornly glared back at him.

"Well, since I love you, I'm going to give you a tip. Never threaten someone without having something on them. If not, it falls right through and you end up worse than you started."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean," he said, stepping closer to her, so she was pressed against his frame. "If you decide to call Hari Prakash, I'm going to call your brother and tell him that you didn't do even half the exercises the therapist recommended you to do. And I am a hundred and fifty percent sure, Arnav won't rest until you walk to that table, like we decided."

Anjali didn't know whether she should laugh or cry. "So what," she said, dejected. "We are going to keep trying for the rest of eternity?"

He smiled. "I promise you, it won't be eternity."

"But what if it is?" she asked in a small voice, her head hanging in insecurity. "What if I'm on crutches for the rest of my life?"

He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Then so be it. I don't care if you are short or tall, fair or dark, two legged or one legged... I love the Anjali who sits behind these two eyes, not the one in front."

And just like that all her frustration vanished, and all she felt was the unimaginable love this one man had for her.

Seeing her face soften, Shyam kissed her tenderly on the lips before bending down to pick up her fallen props. After making sure she was stable on her feet, he backed away to the coffee table in the middle of the living room.

Anjali hesitantly leaned on her weakened leg, steeling herself for the pain she was sure will come.

"You are doing good," she heard him say.

She rolled her eyes at the unnecessary positivity. "I have a question," she said through gritted teeth, carefully placing one foot in front of another. "How am I supposed to take pheres if I'm on support forever?"

He waited until she made it to the table to answer. "Like this," he murmured, swinging her up in his arms.

She grinned sheepishly. "Maybe I should be one legged then."

He merely laughed in answer.

* * *

"Is it worth it though? I mean I already have a gazillion black dresses."

Khushi raised an eyebrow.

"What? It's true! You said it yourself."

"And since when do you listen to everything I say? And more importantly, since when do you say no to a dress?"

Lavanya let out a sigh and set down the black dress. It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and the two besties were found amidst a shopping trip that like always was not necessary, but was sufficient for mood lift. And looking at a somber Lavanya, Khushi was sure a pick-me-up was exactly what her best friend needed.

"What happened to you Lavs?" Khushi asked.

She shrugged in response. "Nothing... I just don't think I need a dress. That's all."

Khushi stared hard at her, trying to understand what she was missing. She had been so caught up with her mother's death and then, her newfound relationship that she never took the time to see what was happening in Lavanya's life. And it seemed she missed something big, for her best friend was miles apart from last time they properly met.

Lavanya's quirky outfits were replaced with darker, muted ones; her usually well-kept curls were up in a bun and the perhaps, the most shocking were the black frames sitting on the bridge of her nose. She appeared so mature and serious that Khushi was actually worried.

However, she knew better than to ask straightforwardly. So instead, she turned to a mirror and said, flaunting a dress she was trying on, "Do you think this is appropriate for a cocktail party?"

Lavanya cocked her head to the side. "Isn't the size a bit too small for you?"

"This is the only size they have left!"

"Hmm... I guess it works if you don't mind suffocating for a good four hours."

Khushi glared. "You are not helping!"

"Just pick another other one Kush."

Khushi frowned in answer and unwilling, turned around to head back to the changing room when she heard a dreaded ripping sound. She froze, like a deer caught in headlights, and looked wildly at Lavanya, who was trying hard to suppress a laugh. Her dress had ripped at the seams.

"Just go back and change," Lavanya advised wisely.

Khushi groaned and ran to the changing room. "Do you think they are gonna notice?" she asked, once she came out, mercifully in her own clothes.

"I doubt it. Hide it in the racks."

Khushi obeyed, thanking the heavens that no one witnessed her sheer stupidity. "By the way, what happened to your interview with that designer you were talking about last week?"

Lavanya casually continued browsing through the clothes. "I didn't get the job."

"So you definitely need a dress then."

Lavanya sighed. "Give it a rest Khushi."

"I just want to know why you are saying no! You look gorgeous in that dress!"

"Because I don't want to spend money that is not mine!" she snapped in reply. "I owe my Dad enough as it is."

Khushi fell quiet, realizing what the problem was. Anand Kashyap was a stubborn man, and it seemed, even his daughter couldn't change that. "He still didn't approve of Aman?"

"I am not looking for his approval."

"So, it's the fashion designing then?"

"He told me he will agree to our wedding if I join his company."

"What did you say?"

"Aman told me to say no."

Khushi sighed. "He is your father Lavs. He only wants the best for you."

"I am not denying that," she said, solemn. "I just... I don't want to pick between him and Aman or Aman and my dreams. It's not fair."

"No, it isn't."

"I tried everything, he-"

"Did you try talking?"

Lavanya stared at her. "Are you being sarcastic?"

"No, I'm being honest. Yeah, I never had a father, but I have seen two people try to be one. So I know enough to say, just talk to him. Without getting mad or frustrated or upset. And trust me, he will listen."

Lavanya didn't answer.

"You know what," Khushi said suddenly, when the silence became too long. "We don't need dresses. We need two scoops of double chocolate ice cream in a chocolate waffle cone with extra chocolate on top."

Lavanya blinked. "Is it bad if I understood that?"

Khushi grinned and together they set off towards the food court of the mall. They had just sat down, ice cream in hand, when Khushi's phone buzzed with a text message. It read:

Done shopping?

"Is it Arnav?" Lavanya asked.

Khushi nodded and replied:

You never ask a girl if she is done shopping.

Lavanya, who read the message before she hit send, laughed. "So, I take it everything is well in Tom and Jerry land?"

Khushi rolled her eyes. "We aren't Tom and Jerry."

"You used to be. So, tell me, what is he like?"

"That is a simple question with a complicated answer that I don't really know."

Lavanya smirked. "So, Miss Krazy Kinetic Gupta finally figured out the answer to love."

"Yeah, yeah. Rub it in all you like," she muttered. "But listen, I know a few of Arnav's clients. They would be happy-"

"No."

"Lavs-"

"No," she answered, stubborn. "I don't want or need to owe someone something. I'm tried of that, okay? If I'm going to get a job, it's going to be on my own."

"Should I even try to change your mind?"

Lavanya stretched her hand out to hold Khushi's. "I love you. I really do. I know you are freaking out about me, but I am fine. Like you said, I will talk to my Dad. But let me do this one thing alone, okay? Without anyone's favor."

Khushi nodded, losing her argument. "You know those glasses look really nice on you. You should keep them."

"I'm glad I got your approval."

"Approval for what?" came a deep baritone voice.

Khushi looked up, her heart leaping into summersault, to see Arnav take a seat beside her. Dressed in jeans and a crisp button down shirt, he seemed to have come straight from home.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, shocked.

"Hello to you too," he answered, cheekily. Then turning to Lavanya he said, albeit sarcastically, "She is pleasant to be around, isn't she?"

Lavanya smiled. "Hi Arnav."

"Were you following us?" Khushi asked in the same voice.

"Just long enough to see you fail miserably at trying on a dress."

Khushi was mortified. "You were there-"

"Yup," he replied, smug, while Lavanya unashamedly chuckled.

Khushi was too embarrassed to answer. Taking advantage of her silence, Arnav said, "While she wallows in humiliation, how are you Lavanya? I miss your visits to AR Designs."

"I do too," she said. "Khushi's new company isn't nearly as exciting as AR Designs."

Arnav let out a triumphant smile. "Did you hear that birthday girl?"

Khushi rolled her eyes. "Oh please! My company may be small, but it is definitely a good one."

"And when was the last time they were in the news? I believe the answer is: never."

"Just because they are not popular-"

He cut her off. "What do you think Lavanya? Which company is better? The one, which gets invited to all the top-notch events in the city or the one, which never scrapes enough shares to even be announced in the news?"

"I don't think I should answer that," Lavanya said. "There are some rules about loyalty in friendship."

Arnav smirked. "Duly noted. But speaking of parties, there is one next Friday. I happen to have two invitations."

"If you are going to take me as a date, the answer is no," Khushi said.

"What about you Lavanya?" Arnav asked, unperturbed. "Would you like to accompany me?"

Lavanya bit her lip. "Remember those rules of loyalty?"

"Ahh... well, in that case, you can go with Aman. I heard he is flying in next week and I, will try my best to earn forgiveness from your best friend for being truthful."

Lavanya hesitated. "Um... that's-"

"Unless of course, you already made plans for that day."

Khushi interrupted. "It's fine Lavs. Arnav is probably going to spend that entire day failing at earning my forgiveness. At least you and Aman can have fun."

"You guys are hilarious," Lavanya finally said, relenting. "I guess Aman does need a nice welcome home present."

"You know what else will make this present nice?"

Lavanya grimaced, accurately guessing the direction the conversation was steering towards. "Don't-"

"That gorgeous black dress you are insulting by not buying."

"I have to go," Lavanya replied, shaking her head. "I have an appointment to get to."

Khushi sighed in disappointment, as Arnav said, "I will send the invites to your house."

"Thank you so much! Bye Kush."

"Don't forget," Khushi answered. "I need to meet Aman this time around. Okay?"

Lavanya nodded with a smile and waved her hand in goodbye, leaving them completely alone in an otherwise packed food court. Khushi turned to Arnav and said, "That was very nice of you."

"What?" he asked, feigning innocence.

"I know those invitations are to an after party of a fashion show."

Arnav narrowed his eyes. "How did you figure that out?"

"You need to really stop underestimating me."

He entwined his hand in hers. "I never did."

"Thank you," she said sincerely after a pause. "Lavs..."

"Means the world to you. I know. That was the least I could do for the girl who means the world to me."

She stared into his muddy brow eyes, a small smile playing at her lips. "You know, you make it too hard... to be the good one in this relationship."

"Who says there only has to be one good one?"

"Everyone. It's only been six months and you are up by a million points and I am still hovering at zero, if not below."

"Who is counting?"

"Everyone. Somehow you just manage to do all these things that would sweep any normal girl off their feet, forget a damaged one like me."

"Who says you are damaged?"

"Every-"

"Not me. And to prove my point, I brought you something."

Arnav leaned down and pulled out a shopping bag she didn't even remember him carrying. Surprised, she gingerly dug through the wrappings to find a rose gold sequined dress. A gasp escaped her mouth as she realized it was the same dress she was trying on a few minutes ago and unknowingly ripped by choosing a size too small.

"I bought the last piece in your size," he murmured, watching her expression closely.

Khushi couldn't believe her eyes. "I... you... you are impossible Arnav. Just impossible."

"Are you going into shock?"

She looked up at him, ignoring his sarcasm. "This is exactly what I am talking about! What can I possibly do-"

He leaned in, so they were only a few inches apart. "Listen to me - you are up by a billion points in this relationship by just agreeing to be with me despite everything that has happened. So in reality, I am trying to catch up to you, not the other way around."

She took a deep breath, accepting his comfort without any questions asked.

"And even though I am in full support of equality and feminism, there are just some things only a man does. And one of them is the being the one who impresses. All you have to do is be impressed."

"What if I already am?"

He smirked. "Then I am closer to those billion points than I was two minutes ago."

Fortunately, they had been together long enough for Khushi to understand exactly what her answer should be. So, she closed the little distance between them and pecked him ever so lightly on his cheek.

________________________________________________________________________________

Lavanya returns! I know she has been missing for a while, but she was dealing with her own things.

A big thank you for being so patient with me My exams are done, so I will be posting more regularly now.