A/n: Finally, I'm here with the next update! I know most of you are angry enough with me to throw chappals at me, but pardon me this once!
Chapter 15: Cat's out of the bag
Arnav watched, incensed, as Khushi and Anjali walked out of her room. He had been working on the laptop by the poolside, the door to his room kept open so that he'd be able to hear Khushi if she needed help. Not that he thought she would scream for help, but knowing she was resting behind those doors eased a little of the guilt he felt. Though he still believed that she shouldn't have been so adamant, her fainting and her tirade before that had shaken him. Was that how she saw him? But he had thought...
Just then the door had clicked open and Anjali and Khushi had emerged, smiling as they headed down. He considered stopping them for a moment, but let it go; Khushi's absence from her room would be more beneficial to him now.
XXX
"Anjaliji," Om Prakash called quietly, unwilling to disturb the two ladies who were obviously having fun making Jalebis; yet knowing he had to. "Shyamji asked me to call you; he said it was urgent."
"Tell him I'll be there in a second," Anjali replied with a smile as she slowly got down from the kitchen counter she had been seated on. Finishing the half eaten Jalebi in her hand, Anjali said, "You have made me as addicted to Jalebis as you are, Khushi; they're just too sweet!"
"They're only as sweet as the person who eats them, Anjaliji," Khushi replied cheekily, earning a light slap on the shoulder from Anjali. "I swear even the sweetest Jalebi would taste bitter for that Lard Governor; just like him with his Diabetes," Khushi thought in a rush of annoyance and immediately felt bad. She shouldn't have thought of him that way; of his illness. Chiding herself, she decided to make some sugarfree Jalebis for him to ease her guilt.
"You're going to make some more, Khushi?" Anjali asked, noticing Khushi mixing another bowl of the batter. "No, I ... I just ... I thought I'd make a few sugarfree ones; for Arnavji." Anjali grinned and was about to comment when seeing Shyam at the stairs, she said, "Your brother is the most impatient person I know; except Chote. Good Night, Khushi," before she walked towards the stairs. Khushi thought she sensed a stiffness around Shyam's face but he was too far away for her to be certain so she pondered no further and went back to making Jalebis, randomly cursing the very person she was making them for at intervals.
XXX
Arnav tiptoed into Khushi's room feeling quite like a fugitive; which was ridiculous since the house was his and she was the guest. He just had to return something, nothing more; he told himself. He wanted nothing of hers to remain with him; though the few pearls from her Dori seemed to be exceptions; as was the piece of her Dupatta and the bangle and the broken mobile and the ... cursing his uncomfortably sharp memory, Arnav placed the Payal on the Teddybear's hands a little inconspicuously so that she wouldn't immediately notice it before he went back the way he came; heaving a sigh of relief once he was safely in his room.
XXX
Khushi had overslept; her fatigue from the day before combined with the late night Jalebi making had pulled her leg. Rushing to get ready, Khushi jolted out of bed, startled when a tinkling sound came from her side. Looking closely, Khushi found and took out the Payal, the familiarity of the jewel making her smile delightedly. Her mother's Payal! How had they come here? They had gone missing! But she had lost it so long ago ... who would have had it for so long? Not Anjaliji or she'd have told her ... Khushi recalled that she had noticed them missing after Anjali's wedding anniversary party; that meant she must have lost it here, at Shantivan and that left only one option ... but it made no sense. Why would Arnavji have her Payal and not return it? And why now? What should she do? She definitely couldn't wear it now; Anjaliji would ask questions and she'd have no answers ...
XXX
Why isn't she wearing it? Arnav thought as he struggled to look at her feet as she came down the stairs. No sign of the Payal on her feet; it made Arnav annoyed for some reason.
"Where is Anjaliji?" Khushi asked as she stood before him, though she still wasn't looking at him. The previous day's events ran foremost in both of their minds but Arnav's was mingled with irritation that she had ignored his gesture.
"I don't know," Arnav replied curtly, concentrating on his breakfast. Just then Shyam, who had come down the stairs, answered, "She isn't feeling well."
Shyam placed a hand on his shoulder as Arnav stood up hurriedly, "She's fine; don't worry. Just the effects of yesterday's Vrath. She'll be fine soon," Arnav contemplated for a minute before he sat back. Khushi wasn't so easily convinced; she thought she sensed something wrong with Shyam. His eyes were a little red; as if he had cried. He had been tensed last night too.
"Is everything alright, Shyamji?" she asked worriedly and Shyam smiled and nodded though, to Khushi, there was still the lingering sense of fakeness behind it. "I'll take her breakfast to our room," Shyam replied hurriedly and Khushi prepared a plate to give it to him. "Shall I set one for you too?"
"I'm not hungry," Shyam took the stairs two at a time, leaving behind a startled Khushi. She turned to see that Arnav was looking at her with a similar expression, both their thoughts running along the same lines; something was wrong.
XXX
"Rani Sahiba, your breakfast," Shyam said as he placed the plate and even when it got no response from her, he was unfazed. "I'll ... I'm heading out, Rani Sahiba. If ... If you ever could ... no, I don't think I'll be that lucky. I should ... I'm leaving. If you want a div ... I swear I'll not make your life anymore painful." Anjali watched with half open eyes as he retreated. Didn't he know he was causing her pain by going away? That his pain echoed in her heart far more that her own ever did? But she wouldn't call him back; no, Anjali Jha had a little more dignity than to forgive so easily.
XXX
Could you realise you were in love when the very person was lost to you? Shyam had never believed he loved his wife; he had, afterall, married her for his own means. And it had been her honesty and her sweet countenance that had halted his evil intentions. Her calmness and soft nature had soothed his vengeance; he had taken her love the way a parched man sought water. It had changed him; made him think twice. But did he have it in him to love the very person he had, until recently, believed to be the cause for the miseries in his life? It seems he did; Shyam thought with a dry smile. He was in love with his wife; he knew that now, without a sliver of doubt. But it was of no use; she was now as elusive and as unreachable to him as she had been when he had seen her at Lucknow. You only realise how precious and how indispensable she was to your life when she is lost; good going Jha, he told himself. He couldn't imagine living away from her; without her; but he'd respect her wishes. If she wished for him to get out of her life, he would. He deserved all the pain it would bring him for breaking her trust. The look on her face when he had finally told her the truth yesterday, unable to get rid of the guilt after seeing her go through so much for him ... Shyam regretted nothing; Anjali deserved the truth and a better person to love her. He had thought he could be that person; but he knew, he was too soiled for the unblemished angel that she was.
XXX
"I'm going out," Shyam replied generally and walked away from the table where Khushi and Arnav had been having a silent breakfast. Neither knew what to say or how to bring up what they wanted to. Finding the opportunity to break the silence, both of them retorted, "Jijaji," "Shyamji!" Shyam halted without turning. Khushi continued, "If Anjaliji is so ill, wouldn't it be better if you are with her?"
"My being here will not help Rani Sahiba, Khushi," Shyam replied forlornly; realizing the intonation of his words, he amended; he did not want either of them to know; not yet, not ever, "I mean, if I'm here, Rani Sahiba will insist on looking after me; she won't rest. I'll be back soon if she ... tell her that if ever she ... that she just has to call for me to come back," With those very confusing words, Shyam left before Arnav or Khushi could interrupt. Both of them looked at one another, yet more confused.
Shrugging, Arnav said, "I'll be leaving for the office, Khushi." Khushi nodded and said, "I'll get ready in a few minutes too." Arnav shook his head in a No. "You stay at home today, Khushi. You need rest." Seeing that she was about to protest, Arnav tried another approach, "I won't say this if it wasn't for Di, Khushi. Nani, Mama and Mami have gone out and won't be back until the next week; Akash is still in London and even Jijaji has gone out. I don't want Di to be alone in the house. I would stay back myself but since you're here I thought ..." "I'll take care of her," Khushi assured him quickly and Arnav nodded before he left.
XXX
It was an hour past noon and Khushi thought it prudent to check up on Anjali. She walked up the stairs, recalling the events of the past night and that morning. More than what had transpired between Arnav and her, Anjali and Shyam worried her. Shyam was definitely shaken about something; that much was apparent from his behavior; and Anjali's sudden illness seemed too suspicious.
As she ventured into their room, the first thing Khushi noticed was the untouched platter of food that was kept on the table; the second was Anjali's form on the bed, shaking violently. "Anjaliji," she called softly, walking over to the bed to sit beside her. Anjali looked up with red rimmed eyes; a sure sign that she had been crying. Khushi gasped, "What happened, Anjaliji? Are you alright?"
Anjali tried to smile though in her state, it was worse than a grimace. Anjali tried to sit up and Khushi rushed to help her, giving her a glass of water to drink before she asked anything more; though she didn't have to ask. Anjali started speaking as soon as the glass was taken away from her lips. "How could he, Khushi? How could he do this? To me?" she started sobbing again and Khushi, not knowing what else to do, hugged her like she would a child, soothing her until once again, the tears subsided. "It will be alright, Anjaliji," Khushi whispered but only got silence for a reply.
Anjali had fainted and she was rapidly burning up; frightening Khushi. She took Anjali's phone and dialed the Doctor; something she seemed to be doing regularly these days.
XXX
"Something traumatic has happened and her already weak physique isn't able to deal with it. I won't say nothing's wrong because …" Khushi's entire being rocked, she was too shocked to understand. Anjaliji? Her eyes darted to the form that was sleeping peacefully but the unwaveringly motherly smile that had often reminded Khushi of her own mother had vanished, replaced by a frown. Her breathing was irregular; as if her each breath was a gasp; as if the mere act was too straining for her.
"Doctor!" Khushi exclaimed, alarmed. Arnav had trusted her to look after Anjali; what would she tell him? That his sister might never recover? "What should I do?"
The Doctor, who had known the family most of his life, gave Anjali a concerned look; she was like a daughter to him. The little frail girl he had been treating for as long as he had been a Doctor. The sweet wide eyed girl she had been and the wonderful woman she had become. Sighing, he turned to Khushi, "Find what is troubling her, Beta. Try to solve it; I know Anjali has always been the weaker of heart; not like her brother but she is, by no means, delicate. This has to be something very bad to affect her like this. I've given her medicines to reduce the fever; her health, so far as it is physical, will be fine. I can assure that much. But her mind is …" He shook his head before he left, giving instructions about the medicines.
Khushi waited until he had left before she made the call; Shyam wasn't picking up. Frustrated, she tried Arnav's to find it switched off. She felt like throwing her mobile, it was of no use. Quickly calling up the office, she told Aman to ask Arnav to call her immediately. Five minutes later, a flustered Arnav called her, "What is it? Is Di …"
"She has fever; I called the Doctor," Khushi interrupted, not able to hold onto the panic anymore, "I don't know what to do, Arnavji! Anjaliji seemed so broken! Then she fainted! The Doctor said … the Doctor said she has had a trauma attack; that her mind might have been affected …" Unable to speak any longer, she sobbed silently. There was dead silence on the other side before a stone like voice, one that Khushi had never heard from him, spoke, "I'll be there."
He stormed into Shantivan half an hour later and walked past Khushi without sparing her a glance. Taking a seat beside the bed, Arnav took Anjali's hand in his and called her softly, "Di." Anjali's eyes fluttered open and she looked at the one person who had stayed with her through thick and thin; all her life. "Chote," she called, her voice lower than a whisper before a lone tear escaped her eyes. "I can't seem to stop troubling you, can I?" she asked with a sad smile that had Arnav flinching. "Di, trouble me all you want; if it will keep you happy, I'll go through anything; anything at all. Nothing is too big a price for you, Di. For your happiness …" The words seemed to ease her a little and Anjali closed her eyes once again, this time falling asleep. Her brother was here; that was enough to calm her. She rested with her hands firmly holding onto his. Arnav sat there for a while, with Khushi standing by the door, a silent spectator. She had seen Arnav as ASR the ruthless business tycoon, as a sworn enemy, as a merciless boss, as a tricky opponent, as a person who cared naught for family, for relationships, for God; but that moment, Khushi realized, Arnav Singh Raizada, more than anything, was a brother and everything else took a backseat when that one thread of his life was threatened. She turned to leave them alone when muted steps sounded behind her. Khushi turned, intent on apologizing but Arnav shook his head, indicating that they should step out.
"I'm sorry, Arnavji. There was … Anjaliji … I was useless. You were right to never trust me, I couldn't do a thing! I can't do anything right; I'm bad news, Arnavji! I should just go somewhere where I won't cause anyone harm. I should just disappear; I …" Arnav, who had so far listened to her rant close her mouth with his hand, shaking his head again; no. When she looked at him with remorse filled eyes, he drew her to him in a hug, her hands around his torso as much comfort to him as it was to her to be in his arms.
"Never, never talk like that Khushi, understand? You bring joy wherever you go; this is the truth. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. And what's this about leaving? Do you even have any idea how much I … everyone would suffer even listening to you speak this way? Don't even dare to think about leaving, okay?" he whispered furiously, unable to place the weight that had lodged itself in his throat the moment she had spoken about leaving. He couldn't fathom not seeing her everyday, not hearing her sickly cheerful voice call him by the name of the day, not having her around even if he mostly tried to get a rise out of her and annoy her, not knowing if she was okay – he could never go on without her … he couldn't stand to even hear her say those words. He couldn't deal with this; no, not when Di's state had already weakened his hold over his heart. He couldn't bear to see Khushi leave him too … his arms tightened around her as she rested her head on his shoulder, his reproach all the consoling she needed.
"I won't go anywhere away from you, Arnavji," she replied in a choked voice; Arnav 'Hmm' ed, lost in thought as his hands absently rubbed her back comfortingly.
A glass dropping to the floor brought them back to reality and the two sprang apart. Before things could get awkward between them, they rushed to Anjali's room from where the sound had come. Anjali had woken up and had been trying to get a glass of water. Khushi rushed to her side but Arnav held her back. "The glass pieces," he said, indicating the floor. He tiptoed carefully around the shattered pieces and lifted Anjali in his arms and moved her to the other side of the bed. Khushi was immediately by her side to make her comfortable. "Shall I get you something to eat?" Without waiting, Khuhsi went and returned with lunch. After a bit of coercion from the both of them, Anjali ate as Arnav fed her, all the while staring at the two with tear filled eyes. "Is the food too hot, Anjaliji?" Khushi asked worriedly and Anjali chuckled wryly, shaking her head.
"Where is he?" Anjali asked once she had eaten; Arnav and Khushi looked away, unable to face the question in her eyes. Shyam hadn't attended the phone since morning. "He won't come; not until … not until I call him myself," Anjali murmured, conflicted. She wanted him by her side, even if he didn't love her; she loved him enough for the two of them. But after all that he had done, did she have the guts to risk her life, her heart once again?
"I'll try to call him again, Di. He must be busy," Arnav tied to placate her but Anjali shook her head. "He won't pick the phone up, Chote; he won't come. He left; he left me. He promised … he broke his promises. But what could he do? He left me because he thought I hated him. Me, Chote, do you think I could ever hate him? How then did he think that, Chote? How could he? How could he leave me all alone? He promised …" Anjali was quickly slipping into delirium, her voice starting to sound more and more desperate and fading as she ranted and raved. Arnav was frustrated; helpless. What did he do now? Hell, he didn't know how to deal with emotions; that had always been his Di's job but now she was in such a state. Khushi stood up suddenly and went to where Anjali's mobile was lying on the table. Arnav saw, with a quirked eyebrow, what she was doing. Before he could ask, things got worse. Anjali shot out of bed, trying to run out of the room. It took all of his strength to keep her from doing so. "Let me go, Chote. I have to go … I've to stop him. Ask him to come back …"
XXX
"He can't go, Chote! I won't … I can't live without him!" Shyam's eyes teared up, his pace quickening to an outright run as he raced through the streets of Delhi, any sane thought forgotten. He couldn't go away from her; he loved her too much; it hurt too much …
A/n: I know, I know, its really crappy; not at all my best but writing too much angst is a little tough for me. But I do so hope the length made up for my long absence. And the next chapter is right around the corner too!
That is, if you guys want me to …
On a last note, I'm getting rid of my PM list so if anyone wants to get PMs on updates, you'll have to Buddy me. Its hard enough when I PM my Buddies and no-one comments, and the PM list is a really tough job.
Sorry if I offended anyone!
Precap:
"Did you do this to get back at me? For revenge? I told you, I warned you not to hurt my sister. I told you to leave her the hell alone! It was me you should be hurting, not her, dammit! She's had enough suffering in her life! Quite enough! Why did you have to go and shatter her life? Her picture perfect world where everything revolves around happiness? Why?" Khushi listened, astonished; she'd never thought Arnav could have such a deep understanding of people, of emotions that he spoke so cynically about. Anjaliji had had enough suffering? What about him? Who was there to protect him, shield him from the world the way he had done for Anjaliji? Khushi could feel tears prickle her eyes and looked down lest he notice them. He'd definitely ask her the reason and she didn't know how to explain the surge of protectiveness she felt towards him. She wanted to hug him tight; guard him from the world that seemed out to get him; try its best to break him …
Why such a long precap, you ask? Just to illustrate how long I hope you comments will be!
~Nina
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
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