I was in the mood for some angst. So, here's a bit of an angsty update. I'll reply to comments later. Hope you guys like it!
~Part 28~
The rest of the Sunday went in a blur as Arnav and Akash got busy with discussions about their upcoming busy week and Khushi spent the rest of the day with Anjali, Nani and Mami. At dinner time, Khushi decided to go up and call Arnav and Akash down for dinner, when Jaiprakash told her that Arnav's skipping dinner and Akash will have it later in his room. Khushi fleetingly wondered whether to go and try when Anjali asked her to help with bringing the food out.
After everyone finished dinner, Khushi was about to step out of the kitchen after clearing out when she decided to take some food for Arnav. She quickly cut up some bread and made a sandwich and squeezed some orange juice, put everything on a tray, and walked out.
She met Anjali on the way, who smiled at her.
"Di woh.." started Khushi.
Anjali interrupted her saying "Jaiprakash humse keh rahe the ki hamesha ki tarah kuch khana woh tray mei denge aur hum leke jaa sakte hai, lekin humne keh diya ki Khushi leke chali jayegi. Hum galat toh nahi the?"
"Oh" said Khushi "Aur khana lena tha kya Di? Hum bas itna hi le jaa rahe the" She gestured at the sandwich and juice.
"Arre nahi" said Anjali "Jab woh dinner ke liye mana karta hai toh hum bhi leke jaate hai toh woh khata nahi hai. Lekin koshish karne mei kya hai?"
"Ji" said Khushi and left after wishing Anjali a good night.
Akash had left some time back and Arnav had been trying to call people to figure out the progress on the work he had assigned in terms of investigations about his Jeejaji. Being a Sunday didn't help and everyone asked for more time. They assured him that they were doing everything they can, but the places that they needed to find the information from were all closed.
Arnav threw his phone on the bed and paced hims room. He felt so helpless. He hoped against hope that his Jeejaji had a good reason to go and live at Khushi's Buaji's house and let his Di and everyone in the house think that he's out of town. He also wished he had a good enough reason for not ever mentioning Khushi or Anjali to each other in spite of being aware that they knew each other.
Arnav wasn't sure he wanted to know the truth. If his worst fears came true, he wouldn't know what to do next. Was it better to let his Di continue to be in blissful ignorance? Or, was it his responsibility to open her eyes to the truth and then let her make an informed decision?
He shook his head knowing he'll have to wait for a few more days before everyone got back to him with the information. Thankfully, Jeejaji was out of town. Or wait, was he? He remembered that Jeejaji's trip had come up at the same time that Khushi moved in. Was he staying out because he knew Khushi was living here?
The knock on the door cut into this thoughts. "It's open" he called out irritably.
"Kholiye na" he heard Khushi call out from the other side.
He wished she would go away. He was in no mood to talk to any one. He tried ignoring her when she called out again with another knock.
He strode to the door and pulled it open saying "Mai tumhara naukar nahi hu. I said it was open!"
Khushi looked taken aback. She looked at the tray in her hand and then back at him.
"Woh humaare haath mei ye tha toh.." she said, almost wishing she hadn't come with the food.
He didn't glance at the food or move to let her in.
"Kya chahiye?" he said.
Khushi wasn't sure what she had expected, but suddenly she felt very unsure.
"Woh hum aapke liye khaana laye the" she said.
"Maine tumhe pehle bhi kaha hai ki tum ghar par mere liye kaam nahi karti. And either way, feeding me isn't part of your job description" said Arnav looking straight at her face.
Khushi wondered what had happened. But, she tried again.
"Ji.. er.. woh.. hume pata hai.. par aap khaane nahi aaye toh.."
"Maine Jaiprakash ko bol diya tha ki mai dinner nahi kar raha hu"
"Ji hume pataa hai. Par humne socha ki aapko raat ko bhook lagegi toh bas sandwich aur juice le aaye hum" she said gesturing to the tray.
Arnav stepped closer and said "Dekho Khushi, mai tumse theek se baat kar raha hu toh ye mat samajhna ke hum dost ban gaye hai. Mujhe bhook lagegi toh mai jaake kha loonga. In case you've forgotten, ye mera ghar hai. Di aur Akash ki baatei sunke tum apne aapko meri biwi mat samajhna. Tum apne kaam se matlab rakho. And that doesn't include knocking on my door with food at 10 in the night. Samjhi tum?" he said coldly.
Khushi looked like she was slapped. She tried to fight the tears that were threatening to spring up in her eyes. She took a breath and said "Ji Arnav sir. Samajh gayi. Kaafi achche se samjhaaya aapne. Aapko disturb kiya, sorry."
Not trusting herself to walk all the way to the kitchen, she just turned and walked into her room with the tray and shut the door. She left the tray on the table and went and sat on the bed.
Outside her door, Arnav was still standing with a hand on the handle of his door. The moment he saw her eyes tear up, he had come to his senses. He rested his head against his own door and took a deep breath. He wished he hadn't opened the door in the first place. He knew he had hurt her intentionally. He was angry and scared himself and had lashed out at her when she came before him at that time. He tried to shirk off the image of the hurt that flashed in her eyes when he said those words to her.
He walked to her door and stopped in front of it. He fleetingly wondered if he should just wait outside until she came out to go and make jalebies. He smiled inwardly at the thought and decided to not give her a chance to make another 100 jalebies. He took a deep breath and opened the door without bothering to knock.
She was squatting on her bed with her face buried on the pillow that she was hugging. She looked up when she heard the door opening. His fists clenched when he saw her tear-stained face before she quickly wiped her face and stood up. She avoided his eye and started fiddling with the end of her kameez, something she did when she was nervous, he noted absently.
He walked over and sat on the bed. He looked at her patted next to him, gesturing her to sit. She just stared at him and didn't move. He leaned over and pulled her to sit on the bed.
"Khushi mai.."
"Hume pata hai. Hume khana nahi lana chahiye tha. Hum aapko jaante hi kitna hai? Shaayad aap baar baar khaana miss karte honge. Hume.."
"Khushi" sighed Arnav placing his hand on her hand to stop her fiddling with her top. "Mujhe kabhi toh apni puuri baat pehli baar mei bolne diya karo"
She looked at him and bit her lip.
"Mai bahut pareshan tha Khushi. Kisi aur baat ko lekar bahut chinta mei tha. Isiliye neeche bhi nahi aaya. Kyunki mai kisise baat karne ke haalat mei nahi tha. I was just really messed up in the head worrying about something. Kamre mei toh kuch todne hi waala tha mei gusse mei. Tabhi tum aayi khana leke."
Khushi looked at him wondering if he expected this to be considered as an apology. "Ye sab hume bataane ki kya zarurat hai, Arnav sir? Ghar par hum aapke liye kaam nahi karte. Aur phir hum aapke dost bhi nahi hai."
Arnav sighed. "I know you're mad, Khushi. Mujhe woh sab nahi bolna chahiye tha. I didn't intend to say any of it and I certainly didn't mean any of it"
"Gusse mei insaan kabhi kabhi apne mann ki baat bol deta hai" said Khushi bitterly.
Arnav held her shoulders and pulled her closer. "Hamesha baato pe mat jaao. Mujhe dekhke tumhe lagta hai ki mai tumse woh sab kehna chahta tha? Forget what I said and forget what I'm saying. Just tell me kya tumhe lagta hai ki I meant any of that?" said Arnav looking into her eyes.
Khushi looked at him for a few moments and said "Aap kya karte hai, kya sochte hai aur kya bolte hai hume nahi pata"
"Toh phir meri nahi apni suno Khushi. Mai kya mehsoos karta hu woh tum apne aap se poocho" said Arnav softly. "and you will be right."
Khushi felt her eyes well up again as she looked into the tenderness in his eyes. Unthinkingly she moved closer, put her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back with an intensity that made her cry into his chest. He kissed the top of her head and pulled back. When she looked up into his face, he wiped her face clean and said "Maine phirse rula diya na?"
She smiled lightly and said "Lekin iss baar aansoo pochke hassaya bhi aapne"
He moved forward and kissed her nose lightly.
"Vaise maine sahi kaha tha ki tumne sahi socha tha ki mujhe bhook lagegi. Woh sandwich phek toh nahi diya?" he said rubbing his stomach.
She laughed lightly and walked over to the table and got the tray and placed it on the bed between them.
"Gusse mei hum hi khaanewaale the" she said.
"Chalo maine ek jalebi session bhi rok li" said Arnav before starting to eat and earned a glare from her.
"Jo bhi problem tha, woh theek ho gaya?" she asked after some time.
He stopped eating and said "Filhal toh nahi, par kabhi bataunga tumhe"
She nodded and decided not to bring it up with him until he wanted to.
After finishing his food, he got up and pulled Khushi into a tight hug. He pulled away, kissed her on the forehead, and said "Khushi, thank you. For dinner and everything else. Goodnight" and brushed his lips against hers before stepping out and closing the door after him.
Khushi had a soft smile playing on her lips as she settled into bed.
~End of Part 28~
Edited by Janet.Das - 13 years ago
Cricket
Anupamaa
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
193