CHAPTER - 5
Arnav drowsily opened his eyes and frowned as he tried to recollect where he was. "Where am I?" he questioned himself, looking at the surroundings. Recalling he was in "Tirumala" with his cousin and sister he slowly got out of the bed still half asleep and entered bathroom to freshen up.
Anjali and Akash were having fun when they heard Arnav's room door. As Arnav came into Anjali's line of sight, she said, "Good Evening, Chote. Looks like you had a sound sleep."
Arnav half-interested replied, "I just slept, Di"
Anjali with excitement quite clear in her voice said, "No, you slept very well, so well that my brother didn't even budge when I knocked and walked into his room a while back. You look refreshed and reenergized. Now you understand why I always say you need a break. One day off from work and see you are sleeping like a baby. I am happy I got you here. ..."
"There she goes again complaining about his work habits. Why is everything always connected to his work in her view? I need to stop her before she concludes it was because of this trip and also before she decides that she has to drag me on these silly trips more often.", he thought to himself without paying much attention to his sister's speech about how work is not life.
Irritated he replied, "Di, come on. Please don't start with your speech. My sleep has nothing to do with my work. I slept well because no one called me on my phone as usual, which used to disturb my sleep." His head was still heavy due to his seldom nap.
Anjali who was adamant to make her point clear and to win her argument said, "Chote, don't argue. You said it yourself now. You slept because you didn't get any office calls to disturb you. That in itself implies 'no work hence no calls'. Now don't deny it, you got your well-deserved rest because I got you here. Instead of thanking me, you are arguing. You need such breaks more often."
Arnav snapped. This was exactly what he didn't want his sister to conclude. He instantly growled, "Oh come on Di! No one called because my cell phone was dead and not because I am here with you on some holiday." The last statement he made, made him come out of the tiny bit of daze he was still hanging on to. "Damn it! My phone. Aman must be trying to reach me. Where the hell is Shiva? Why is he still not back with the new phone?", Arnav was getting furious.
Akash curiously asked, "What happened to your cell, Bhai?"
Anjali quickly pitched in and explained Akash about how Arnav broke his cell. And turning to Arnav she said, "Shiva got the new cell. I came to your room to tell you but you were sound asleep, so I thought to wait. Also, Aman called me as he was not able to reach you and asked me to inform you that he still didn't have any luck to find a way to get darshan done soon."
Arnav nodded at her in acknowledgment and before he could say anything Akash spoke, "By the way Di, that means the credit for Bhai's once, in a blue moon, uninterrupted noon nap must go to the person who ran into Bhai. Because if his cell was not broken he would never have slept to his heart's content."
Anjali placed her right index finger on her chin as if thinking about it and chuckled, "So true, Akash Bhai. Arnav did you see the person's face if you did then show me next time you spot him, I want to see the person who dared to separate you from the love of your life - your work. Also, I need to thank him for breaking your cell." Anjali said teasing her brother. It was not always that she got such an opportunity and also for some reason her brother was not interrupting her as always which encouraged her even more.
Arnav hardly heard what his Di was saying as his thoughts from that afternoon were becoming fresh in his mind. 'Khushi' he called her name in his heart as his ears barely heard Anjali saying about thanking the person. He involuntarily murmured, "Thank HER Di not him."
Anjali who was busy plotting her next comment with Akash's help, looked at Arnav and asked, "Kya? Arnav did you say something?" (What?)
Arnav snapped out of his reverie and understanding what he just uttered said, "Nothing Di. Can you give me the new cell phone, I need to make some calls."
Anjali coldly replied, "No way I am giving you the phone now. First, let's have dinner, I am hungry."
Arnav half-heartedly agreed to know that arguing with his sister will get him nowhere.
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Arnav was lost in Khushi's thoughts throughout dinner. Whenever he saw anything white his head automatically turned that direction wishing it to be her. Anjali observed her brother as she realized that he was hardly paying any attention to the conversation happening on the table. She tried to understand the reason for her brother's absent-mindedness. Remembering his actions from that afternoon she finally asked, "Arnav, Are you really ok? You have that look on your face again, you seem lost." placing her hand on his forehead checking if he was running temperature.
Arnav smacked himself mentally for behaving like an idiot all this time. "Forget about Khushi - Arnav. Mighty ASR cannot fall weak before one silly girl. You know nothing about her, you just met her once, so stop thinking about her. Don't make it easy for Di to read your face. Now quickly think of an excuse" he told himself. Soon in a definite tone, he said, "I am fine, Di. I was thinking now that Akash is here, why don't you both go to 'Darshan' (Visit temple) tomorrow. I will stay in the guesthouse. Anyway you know I don't believe in God or supernatural power or whatever it is. So what is the point in me coming."
Anjali narrowed her eyes and looked at her brother questioning him if this was what he was plotting all this time. Not getting any hint from the stern look on his face she spluttered, "Arnav, You are coming and that's final. You might not believe in God but I do and I want you to come."
Sensing what was coming next, Akash jumped in before his cousins started arguing again. Trying to sound as innocent as possible he said, "If one of us is to drop then I will drop, Bhai. I am still jet-lagged. When I am not in the condition to handle myself then how can I take Di's responsibility." He winked at Anjali before she said anything.
Arnav stayed mum for a few seconds and finally said sighing, "We are all going tomorrow. Happy now Di".
Anjali gave a wide smile and looked at Akash giving him a high five mentally.
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Once they returned from the dinner Arnav wasted no time in grabbing the new cell from Anjali. Arnav opened his laptop and connected his network adapter to check his emails before he called Aman. He was going through some deal documents and his mind, instead of concentrating on the screen in front of him was wandering off towards that one person whom he was trying hard to keep out of his mind - 'Khushi'. "Damn it", Arnav barked, closing his laptop shut in one swift moment making a thump.
Anjali who was passing by rushed into Arnav's room as she heard his uproar. Arnav sternly said, "I am fine, Di." in a firm tone before she asked anything and buried his face in the cell. Anjali knew something was bothering him but kept silent realizing that it was not the right time to ask him.
Anjali was stepping out of Arnav's room when she heard him call her. As she turned he asked her, "Di, you said you talked to Aman. Does your cell have a signal? Mine isn't showing any. Maybe some problems with this new piece. Can you give me your cell, I need to make a few calls?"
Anjali thought for a moment and answered, "Ya, I forgot to mention there is no signal in the guesthouse. I realized it earlier when I was trying to call your Jijaji (brother-in-law). I was out on a walk with Akash when Aman called, so maybe there was a signal there."
Arnav sighed heavily, frustration evident in his face. Nothing was going as he wanted that day, he never wanted to come here and there he was, he wanted for a quick trip and it is getting longer due to a lot of devotees visiting and the most important of all 'Khushi', she was invading his mind even after all his efforts to resist her. He really wished for the day to end soon. Without uttering a single word, he got up, walked past Anjali and out of the guest house in search of cell signal.
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Lavanya watched Khushi in amazement as she sat near the stairs of their cottage, narrating 'Cinderella' story to the two girls from the adjacent cottage. She slowly walked to Khushi and said, "Khushi, if your story is done can we go for dinner. I am very hungry."
Khushi looked at Lavanya and replied, "Please, Lav. 5 minutes. The story is almost done."
After 5 minutes they left for the nearest restaurant. Lavanya out of curiosity asked Khushi, "How can you possibly make friends with people of all ages? And yet you tell me I am your first friend. Those kids love you so much that they were glaring at me as if I am taking not my best friend but theirs, away from them."
Khushi simply looked at Lavanya and said with mischief in her eyes, "Are you jealous, Lav? Aahhh! so cute. Trust me you are really my first sweet, best friend. Since you are my best I will let you in on my secret." She moved close to Lavanya's ear increasing her curiosity and shouted "There is a magnet hidden in me due to which people are attracted to me."
Lavanya glared at Khushi while Khushi burst out laughing looking at her expression. Slowly Lavanya also joined her in laughing.
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Khushi walked out of the shower, changed into her night suit, and went to bed. She kept on changing her position every few seconds trying hard to fall asleep but her efforts went in vain. Lavanya was almost asleep when Khushi sat up straight on the bed and slowly poked her.
Lavanya let out a low, "ummm".
Khushi whispered in low voice, "Lavanya, Are you asleep?"
Lavanya with her eyes still closed replied, "Yes. What do you want Khushi?"
Khushi hesitantly replied, "I am not feeling sleepy, so I thought of going and looking at the stars for some time. Will you come with me?"
Lavanya now partially opened her eyes looked at Khushi and grumbled agitated, "Sleep Khushi. You know that we need to wake up pretty early in the morning for darshan. That was why we slept early in the first place right, to skip the rush as much as possible. Also, I am really tired and I am sure you are too."
Khushi stayed still for a few minutes thinking of ideas to fall asleep. She knew Lavanya was right when she said that they were tired and need to sleep in order to wake up early. But for some reason, she was not able to fall asleep. She was feeling lonely in spite of being with her friends. The only thing that helped her during these times were stars. She just loved them. The stars made her feel warm and safe. Just by sitting under them, she felt like she was home with her amma and Babuji. She slowly got out of her bed and looked at the clock. "Chal Khushi, 9:00 pm hi baje hai. Jaldi ja kar taare dekh kar aaja. Devi Maiya hai na tere saath" she spoke to herself as she walked out of the room silently. Giving one look at her friends who were sleeping peacefully, she closed the door behind her. ("Let's go Khushi, its only 9:00 pm. Just go fast, look at the stars and come back soon. Devi Maiya is with you, right.")
Khushi walked a few yards and looked up, trying to find stars in the sky but the trees around her cottage were so thick that even the sky was hardly visible, let alone any stars. Taking a few steps at a time and checking the sky, she drifted away from the cottage searching for stars.
Previous - Chapter - 4
Hope2013-02-03 22:52:17
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