Arakshi FF: Intezaar [Updt - pg 39, 20 March] - Page 7

"Damn!" He hissed, hastily bringing his hand under the cold running water. Even as the

water ran down his hand, an angry scald made its presence between the thumb and

forefinger.

"Kya hua?" Sakshi's concerned voice reached his ears before he saw her coming into the kitchen.

"Kuch nahi woh, chai haath pe gir gaya" Arjun mumbled. A good inch and a half of skin, on

the back of his left hand, was now red and throbbing in pain.

He heard her soft gasp and a second later, her hand was under his. Gently holding it up,

she examined the damage he'd inflicted on himself by accident. Initially warm, the

temperature of her hand dipped as water ran down from his hand onto hers. He let his hand

hang loosely in hers for a moment before realising that she was standing too close for his

liking.

Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, he retrieved his hand from his wife's. Clearly oblivious to

his discomfort, Sakshi immediately grabbed his hand, slowly bringing it back under water,

"Paani ke neeche rakho Arjun. Mein jaake ointment laati hoon"

"No, that -"

Before he could finish his sentence, she turned on her heel and left the kitchen. Sighing,

Arjun turned the tap off and made his way into the living room. Just as he sat down on the

couch, Sakshi came back with a sheepish grin,

"I don't know where the ointment is"

"The first-aid kit is in the third draw on the bedside -"

"Uss mein nahi hain, abhi dekha"

"Oh, it's probably in the bathroom...last drawer mein hoga"

"Ok" She smiled, before heading back into the bedroom.

Arjun huffed and slumped down on the couch. Ever since he had that conversation with

Sameer, he'd been trying to be as civil as possible. With guilt gnawing at his insides, he

could no longer treat Sakshi as a stranger or more cruelly, ignore her. He tried to be the

man he knew he was, instead of the rude, brooding one he became.

"Yeh lo...mein laga doon?" Sakshi came back holding the white tube in her hand.

"Nahi, mein laga loonga" He said it way too quickly. He saw hurt flicker in her eyes before

she quickly masked it with a smile. Handing the ointment to him, she walked into the

kitchen.

True, he was trying. Yet, there were some things he just couldn't change. He knew he hurt

her every now and then with his actions, with his words and with his lack of interest.

Sometimes, he felt telling her the truth would be a lot easier. She would at least know his

reason behind the actions. But that was selfish thinking. It would probably lessen his guilt

but the truth will hurt her, probably more than his actions do now.

After a lot of deliberation, Arjun decided what she needs is not the truth. He knew that

decision might someday come back to bite him. But, he also knew what she needs more

than the truth is for him to be her friend, be a caring and loving life partner.

He knew all that, yet...

FIVE

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