Chapter 24
Shanthivan Delhi 2011
Kushi had prepared a very light dinner since Arnav had still not recovered completely. After Anjali Di had left he had not come out of his room & unlike her usual nosy self this time she hadn't disturbed him because she knew that Di's arrival must have been painful to him. A traumatic reminder of their past a ghost which always haunted them never letting them live in peace. She was not sure for how long her Devi Maiyya was planning to torment her but she was not ready to give up.
"One day I will finally win your love Arnav. One day'" She whispered.
"Where you talking to me?"
She was startled out of her trance. She hadn't noticed him arrive. She seemed to be too woolly headed these days.
She silently started serving dinner. All the while she was darting furtive glances at him. He looked wooden faced & was not letting any emotion show on his face though she had caught him misty eyed in the morning when Di had hugged her.
The silence was overbearing. She gulped & opened her mouth.
"Arnav"
"Kushi"
Both of them stopped & stared at each other.
"Why did you create so much fuss before Dhruv. Di unnecessarily got worried ".
Kushi grit her teeth to avoid making a biting remark. She bit down her retort & decided to simply remain silent. She knew that her silence always infuriated him but she was too tired to get into another fight with him.
Arnav was observing her closely & realized as usual a little late that he had offended her. Well what's new he thought. This was the usual story between them. When she continued to be silent he started getting irritated. Again what's new his mind asked him sarcastically. He took a deep breath. Enough of all this verbal sniping. Let me at least make an effort at a decent conversation.
She suddenly felt his presence & turned to find him standing very close to her. She gulped. Here we go again. He is going to get into his Angry glare-GRAB shoulder/wrist-YELL-GRAB her again-Yell some more-Close eyes-Deep Breath routine. She steeled herself for the fireworks.
"Don't worry too much about me Kushi. I am fine. And I promise that I will never ignore my medicines."
Kushi just gaped at him. This was turning out to be too good to be dream. She pinched herself just to reassure herself that she was not day dreaming again with her eyes open.
"Don't worry. You are not dreaming. Even I can talk decently once in a while contrary to your belief. I am not BAD all the time."
"I never said that you are BAD. I know that you are very sweet & mushy behind that hard facade". The words came out of her mouth before she could stop & she closed her mouth in horror.
Arnav just stared at her for a long time. Then without breaking the eye lock he went back to the chair & resumed eating.
Hey Devi Maiyya I should seriously try being on Moun Vrath for a day. She thought.
"Done talking to your Devi Maiyya in your mind?"
She nodded.
"This Dhruv has no sense. What was the idea behind frightening Di. As if she doesn't have enough worries that now she has to start freaking out about my health."
Kushi was annoyed.
"Don't say anything against Dhruv."
"Oh yeah I forgot that he was your 1st boyfriend"
Oops what have I done now he thought. Hope she doesn't slap me again like yesterday. He nervously touched his cheek.
"No I won't slap you but that's only because you are still not well & extremely weak".
He merely scowled at her.
"What's more even Di likes him a lot."
"Of course she likes him. Everyone is nice & good according to her. She can't see the evil in anyone & that's why her life is in a big mess"
"Oh as if your life is great considering that you actually only see evil in everyone."
"And what good did I get the one time that I really trusted someone."
That hit too close to home & shut her up.
He closed his eyes. The hurt in her eyes had been too painful to him.
"Anyway Di doesn't like him the way she likes everyone else".
His eyes flashed open & narrowed dangerously.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean".
"I noticed a spark between the two the last time I saw them together. In fact I saw the childhood Dhruv that I knew every time I saw him speak to her. He seems to like her a lot, in fact he hangs on her words. Looks like a lost puppy every time he looks at her just like'". She stopped first because she was about to say like you & second because Arnav was looking murderous.
He came near & grabbed her tightly. Here we go she thought. The omnipresent element in all our encounters.
"What did you just say". His voice was hardly a whisper & she knew the danger signs immediately. But this time she was not ready to back down. This was a battle she wanted to fight on behalf of Anjali Di.
"Oh come on Arnav just because you prefer to walk around with blinkers on your eyes doesn't mean that we all do the same. It's pretty obvious that Dhruv likes Di & Di likes him as well. In fact I hope they really get together. It would be really great and'"
Arnav flung her away & growled.
"Dhruv better not dare play around with Di. What the hell does he think of himself. He is my age which means he is younger to Di & he is extremely nonchalant, flippant in his attitude. He is never serious & has too many girlfriends. He speaks a lot always jabbering & laughing loudly. Obnoxious idiot."
"You mean he behaves like a human being & not like a psycho".
"KUSHI KUMARI GUPTA DON'T U DARE CALL ME A PSYCHO".
"Thank god that you realized what you are. First of all Dhruv is a very good, caring, loving guy. He is an extremely successful doctor. He cares a lot for Di. I have known him for too long to ignore the obvious symptoms. Also I am sure Di reciprocates his feelings. And as for him being SLIGHTLY younger than Di so is Sachin Tendulkar, Agassi just to name a few".
"ENOUGH".
"Exactly I thought those examples were enough"
"Don't try to be cute with me Ms GUPTA. I will not let that Casanova lover boy near Di".
"Is this how you scared away all the decent suitors for Di that she finally ended with the OH SO WONDERFUL SHYAM JHA".
She had finally crossed a thin line. She knew it the moment the last word was out of her mouth & she became extremely still. For a mad second she thought he was going to slap her or even
strangle her. But he became extremely silent & stood unmoving as if carved of stone.
"Arnav" she whispered.
"I'" Her voice was shaking.
"I am sorry I am really sorry."
"No you are wrong. The OH SO WONDERFUL SHYAM JHA is for s**ts like you. You & Shyam! That is one ideal pair, you know the made for each other types, a couple which fit each other like gloves. Actually to borrow an old cliched proverb with a slight modification You & Shyam are A MATCH MADE IN HELL. I am sure Di & Dhruv are not that ideal matches are made in heaven mould. Sorry to rain on your parade Ms GUPTA".
It was worse than a slap.
He had finally crossed a thin line. He knew it the moment the last word was out of his mouth & he became extremely still dismayed at his own words & its brutality. She stared at him for a few seconds. She started moving out of the room as if in a trance.
"Kushi'" His voice broke.
"JUST GO. JUST GET OUT BEFORE I KILL YOU. YOU WANTED ME TO LEAVE YOU RIGHT. FINE! U WIN. I AM LEAVING. I AM DONE TRYING TO WIN THIS LOSING BATTLE WITH YOU. TO HELL WITH U ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA."
Before he could stop her she had stormed out of the room.
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Guys just like how its bad 2 actually explain a joke its also bad to explain ones story but i just wanted to point out a few things since we are half way into my story now. You guys will find the following characteristics in my story:
1. Sometimes Arnav & Kushi echo each others' dialogues. In the prev chap Arnav's closing dialogue was that One day he ll win Kushi's love. Kushi says the exact same dialogue as her opening cue in this chapter. Two bodies, One soul 😳
2. Sometimes Arnav does something which confuses Kushi & vice versa. Hence i try 2 put across both their POV. Kushi w'd b pondering over Arnav's action & then i try to show Arnav recollecting his actions & the rationale behind it so that v the readers know the justification behind their actions though ARHI ending up pulling their hair apart trying 2 understand the other person. Thats y the continued misunderstanding between them though 2 us readers again its strikingly obvious that they r madly in love with each other.
3. Even their flashbacks r linked to each other in sequence. For eg while Arnav remembers the incident where he saves Kushi frm the car, the immediate flashback for Kushi is their trip together in the car & the tree climbing antics which follows the car incident. So though the story is in a non-linear manner alternating between present & past u ll notice that just like how the present is in correct chronological sequence, even the flashbacks r in chronological sequence. 1st Shyam's entry, then Kushi's entry in AR, RAKSHAS fiasco, car hit & run etc etc.
Will add a few more down the line. Hope u guys dint find this additional explanation annoying 😳
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Edited by Angels11 - 13 years ago
CID
Ishaani
330