Making his way to her, not taking his eyes off hers, as their hearts had started to beat in unison.. "Dhak dhak.. both whispered at once,
Khushi.. "Arnav ji..
When the door bell rang..
Asking him to take a seat, she moved to the door to open thinking Kushal baba has been really quick. However, she was surprised to find the nearby store boy Krishna with a bag of fruits.
"Khushi didi, Kushal baba called and asked us to deliver this to you. Seeing the bandage, he exclaimed rather loudly, "Didi, what happened, did you fall? When did you fall? Where did you fall? Are you alright?
Breathing a sigh of relief, Arnav sat down and for the first time took notice his surroundings. In his rush to look at his love, he had not bothered to notice anything.. A modest house with all the amenities needed, he could see the large kitchen with attached dining hall. He could easily guess the handicraft works done by Khushi and Payal hung on the walls. The constant smile fixed on his face from the last few minutes grew listening to Khushi's conversation...
"Why Krishna, only fruits. Did he not ask to deliver jilebis. Khushi was speaking rather crossly to the young boy who replied apologetically "Didi, baba specifically told me not to take any such thing. You get well soon didi, I will bring it for you myself. Pukka (promise)
Khushi sent him away with a smile, but soon turned grave thinking of the person sitting inside the house. Her mind again went on a roller coaster ride. She stood for a few minutes, watching the boy go beyond her view, but her mind was as blank as can be. Slowly, her mind then started playing all the dialogues that just took place before they were interrupted.
******************************************************************
"Nani at least now tell me where Chote has gone Anjali was pleading her Nani.
Giving a look at Payal who was clearing the table after breakfast, Nani remarked, "There's no point in hinding now is there? getting a stare from Payal and Anjali.
Anjali guessing what might be the cause, was happy, but Payal was puzzled into thinking, "What is happening?
"Chote has gone to see Khushi bitiya she opened the topic to get a pleasant smile from Anjali and a shocked and confused gasp from Payal and exclaimed loudly "Khushi?
Nani continued, "After he told us what he spoke with Kushal, I was upset seeing him go away so cool without any concern, but Chote's dimaag (brain) is always thinking 2 miles ahead. He was already on the call to Aman trying to book his chopper and arrange for things to sort out at Lucknow, while cancelling all his meetings here.
Both Payal and Anjali raised their eyebrows in surprise, but none the less said nothing and wanted to know more, Nani again continued.. "It was nearly midnight when he came to the room...
Flashback start
"Nani you are still not asleep, the lights are on? Di slept? Arnav asked while going to the kitchen to take a glass of water..
"She just slept, I could not get to sleep, so I woke up. I am a bit worried for Khushi bitiya she said rather tauntingly..
"Don't worry Nani, Kushal just sent a msg saying there is no problem, it is just a little cut, it did not need any stitches or anything major, they will send her home tomorrow. Arnav assured her.
"Poor Kushal, he has to do everything for her. May be her Buaji may go there to look after her Nani spoke to which Arnav interrupted, "Nani I was going to call you in the morning to tell you, but now that you are awake, I will tell you, I will be leaving in about an hour.. "
Concerned Nani asked "Why, what happened? Where are you going?
"I am going to Lucknow to see Khushi Though he has planned to do things secretly, feeling there is no point now, he told her.
Though Nani was happy in her heart, she did not show it. "What do you mean going to see Khushi bitiya? How can you go, and why should you go?
"Nani , have you not seen how that girl is. I know her very well. She has not been keeping well ever since she left Delhi, and now this. Thank God nothing serious happened. She cannot look after herself.. Arnav tried to justify...
"Chote, I agree to what you are saying, but why are you going? She has got her brother and her family, they will look after. You are a young bachelor and when it is the matter of a girl honour, you have to be very careful. Her family will not at all like if you barge into their lives showing extra concern without any proper relation Nani tried to reason him hoping he would get the point.
Arnav got up saying "I need to start now Nani. When he had got to the door, he turned around, seeing Nani cross with him, he spoke, "Nani if that is what they ask, then so be it and walked away before the smile broke on his Nani's face.
Sitting in his room, these were exactly the thoughts that had run through his mind before calling Aman. There was no way to get his Khushi. This was the only route and he was prepared to do anything for her.
Flashback end
Anjali was over the moon listening to her Nani, but Payal was shocked. She literally sat without a word, but with her mouth wide open.. gaining giggles from Nani and Anjali..
Composing herself, Payal spoke, "I will not leave that Khushi ki bachi.. "
But nani spoke, "Poor girl, what has she done, it is my rude grandson who has been indifferent. Thank you Devi maiyya for putting some sense into his head at least now..
"Nani when should we go to their house ... Opps, could anyone stop Anjali now???
**********************************************************************
Soon after Krishna left, Khushi had made up her mind to act nonchalant and turned around to find her heart beat go faster looking at his smile. Wasn't it this smile that had always made her heart skip a beat. Her face broke into a smile as a natural instinct. He looked contended. The first thought that came to her mind
"Laad governor
But what had it all resulted in. Just heart break and nothing else for her. He would cause havoc in her life once more and move on as though nothing had happened. This time she did not trespass, but he. The audacity to come and question her how she could move on? Blame her, call her names at the drop of a hat and now what kind of question was that ? "would you marry anyone your Babuji selected?
She was determined though, not to be taken for a ride again and again, she put on her most sociable hat .
"Arnav ji, it was nice of you to have come. How is jiji? Hope she has adjusted at Raizada mansion. Let me check where Kushal baba is. He promised he would be here soon. She spoke as she picked her mobile to call her brother.
Arnav immediately came over to her, sat right next to her, held her arm to stop her from calling anyone and said "Khushi please can we talk?
Khushi raised her eyebrows with the thought, "ooo please, Laad governor know when and how to talk to people..
"Sure, sure Arnav ji. By the way, jiji never told me your were going to come here. Did you have any fashion show here in Lucknow? Khushi tried to change the topic, while slowly sliding away to the next seat. But he soon got her back to square one..
"No Khushi, I came here to see you Arnav told her point blank, again coming close to her.
Trying to move away, Khushi spoke "Arnav ji, how is Nani ji's health? And Anjali ji? How is she? How is the Mumbai project going on? I must speak to her, it has been a long time.. she must be upset with me"
Arnav moved next to her, cornering her to the edge of the sofa, while still maintaining a respectable distance, he said, "Khushi, please forgive me..
Realising he will not let her go without talking, she started "Arnav ji, why are you apologising? It does not give a man like you any honour to be apologising to a chit of a girl like me. Please don't. If you are sorry for what has been said before, then you have already apologised and there is nothing more to it now. Why, well, we are both leading our own lives now, see I told you I will not bother you like a pest. I am happy, you are happy"
Arnav interrupted her, "No Khushi, tell me are you really happy? I am not happy. I have been horrible without you. First I couldn't bear to think of you going . I wanted to stop you, but how could I stop you? On what relation could I ask you not to go? You know my stand on marriage. I have never seen a proper successful marriage. Our parents, now Di's. There is too much evil in this society.
I thought I will be able to cope like I have always. I tried putting my mind at work to forget you, but still your thoughts never left me. I was always proud that I could forget anything when I am at work, but I could not concentrate knowing you are not there. I have not slept properly since you left, because you don't leave me in my sleep too. You going away has made me realise how important you are in my life. And when I heard your voice yesterday, it was bliss, heaven Khushi. But before we could exchange any words, you know what happened. Khushi, you took the life out of me, literally, I could not breathe. And the fact that I had no way of knowing what was happening was even worse
Khushi listened every word with attention wondering when has Arnav ji spoken so much!! Still she did not want to give up. "You don't have to sacrifice your views and opinions for others sake, like you say, you write your own destiny. Also don't think all marriages are a failure. It is unfortunate your parents and Di's marriage didn't work and you have seen so many unhappy marriages. But there are an equal number of happy marriages as well. Also society is not all that evil. You only choose to see the bad. There is good happening as well, but we take it for granted. "
When Arnav showed no reaction, Khushi continued, "Arnav ji, this is just a passing attraction for you. Just leave all this and get back to your normal life. Slowly you will forget I ever existed. You don't need to feel sorry for anything now. All the things you have said, are very much true. I know I have been a pest ever since I have come in to your life, always irritating you with my middle class ideologies and attitude. We both are worlds apart. To top all this, jiji and Akash ji fell in love and got married, making you think we somehow trapped a rich man, I am extremely sorry for that. Honestly, I have not tried to come close to you or tried to trap you. You have never trusted me before and neither will you in future. That's why all those harsh words. When it comes to your family, if anything wrong happens, you would soon come to the conclusion that it has got to do with me. Probably I will never be able to gain your trust, but, why should it matter now, isn't it? giving him a fake smile she turned away.
"No Khushi don't say that. " Arnav pleaded her not to speak so,
Before she could talk, he grabbed her in an urgency and cried, "No Khushi, it was never meant to be like that. It wasn't because of lack of trust, but it was because of my insecurity when your were around. Lack of trust in myself. You were too good to be true. From the day I saw you, you attracted me more than I liked. And I hated you for that. How I tried my best to put you down in all possible ways, challenging, ridiculing, insulting, but each time you bounced back with more vigour and energy stripping me of my sanity further more. Even though I tried to hate you, I was still proud of you. Sorry Khushi, sorry for all that. You were right in calling me a raakshas. I myself cant believe how I could do all that.. You invoked feelings that I never knew existed, so again I tried to hated you. No Khushi, not a passing attraction like you think, now I will not deny to you, me, or anybody, yes I have strong feelings for you, whatever you call it, I don't know
Trying to dissuade him, "Arnav ji,. Ok ok ok, I will accept you apologies again, though I have now forgotten those things. Let us just carry on with our lives. Nobody will bother you. I told you I will not bother and see I have kept my promise.. why are you taking all these issues now
Getting irritated by her constant refusal, holding her shoulders, coming close to her, "I don't want you to not bother me, I want you to challenge me, I want you to shout at me.. Because when you do that, I feel you have a right to shout at me. I feel the warmth in knowing you, only you have that right, I feel loved when you do that. Because I love you dammit (Phew there you go, said it!!!)
"Arnav ji Khushi whispered. Both sat looking into each others eyes.
However no sleep, travel, no food, no medicines and the great relief of having got over all his feeling today, were taking their toll on his sugar levels, his eyes started to show signs of tiredness, though it was a surprise he had managed up until now. Slowly with a smile, he closed his eyes, tired. Immediately remembering something, "Also Khushi, I have not had coffee since you left...
Khushi exclaimed "What the..
Overcome with concern, she shouted, "Arnav ji, you need sweet.. please wait, I will get something..
Khushi quickly went to kitchen, Arnav half awake, smiled hearing her grumble, "Hey Devi Maiyya, With me around will there be any sweet left in the house!! Remembering her brother had kept some chocolates that she not very fond of, soon went to fetch them.
Arnav was nearly asleep due to exhaustion and sugar levels and had started to hallucinate, "Khushi sweet, medicine, laad governor.."
Khushi hurried with the chocolate. "Arnav ji, you are no less, see what you have made of yourself.. have this now " and she was feeding the chocolate..
That was how Kushal found them when he came opening the door quietly not to disturb Khushi, in case she were sleeping...
Sleeping!!! Really?? all her sleeps have gone, for now and probably future!!!
Dear all, thank you so so much for the lovely comments made. I am honoured...
All silent readers please comment...
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