FF:SUPERNATURAL-Chapter 12(Updated on Page 41) - Page 30

Chapter 12- The Blame Game

Payal covered a shivering Khushi with a warm fuzzy blanket and forced a hot cup of coffee in her cold hands. Khushi closed her eyes and sighed as the hot liquid made its path down her throat and gradually she felt the warmth return, every cell in her body springing back to life. A familiar smell invaded her nostrils. She sprung to attention and followed the inviting smell to the door of the kitchen. And what she saw brought a smile to her face. She felt like she hadn't smiled in ages. Payal laid in front of her a plate filled with jalebies. Khushi jumped at her best friend and embraced her with vivacity. She knew something was wrong. She knew something bad happened between Khushi and Arnav back in the parking lot. She waited for Khushi to tell her the truth.

"Thanks Payal. How do you always know what I want?"

"Because we are not friends."

Khushi left Payal and frowned.

Payal smiled. "We are sisters. Now tell me...what is wrong?"

"Noth...nothing at all Payal. Why do you ask?"

"Khushi. You could never lie. Not when you were a kid and not now. Did Arnav say something? Did he hurt you? I mean...did he try to touch y..?

"No Payal! I...I hurt him."

"Huh?"

Khushi narrated all that happened between her and Arnav back in the parking lot.

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The three brothers entered their motel room. Arnav threw his bag and laptop on his bed and dug his face in his palms.

Sam and Dean exchanged glances. Sam nodded and placed his hand on Arnav's shoulder. He could feel his tense muscles relax at his comforting touch.

Dean sat next to him on the bed. "Is everything alright Arnie?"

Sam shot a death glare at Dean. "Ummm...ah...is everything alright Arnav?"

"How dare she? How dare she raise a finger at my parents' upbringing? Who the hell does she think she is to interfere in my life? I can crumble her life between my fingers in minutes. She has no idea who I am."

Dean reluctantly placed his hand on Arnav's shoulder. "Relax Arnav. Everything will be alright. Forget about it."

Arnav furiously shoved Dean's hand off him and got up. "FORGET IT? How am I supposed to forget? All of this...all of it...IS YOUR FATHER'S FAULT! ALL OF IT!"

Dean clenched his jaw. He had been patient all along, too patient. But now all the chains that tied his patience in place seemed to unlock and snap. "Shut up Arnav! Not again man...not again! You can't blame Dad for all that happens in your life! He is your father too! Don't forget that!"

"I didn't forget! He did! Which is why he left my mother and me to live by ourselves! My mother died...because of him! I lost my childhood...because of him! Lavanya died...because of him! I am hunting...doing what I have hated all my life...because of him! Only because of him! He has been missing for four months now! I am tired! I am so damn tired of this shit!"

"No Arnav! You are wrong! You are wrong this time! You are not hunting to find Dad. You are hunting because you want revenge. Pure revenge and nothing else. For your girlfriend's death. And don't you dare deny it! Do you hear me? Don't. You. Dare. Deny. It." Dean poked Arnav's chest while he spoke. Nobody could miss the fire igniting between the two brothers.

"Don't drag Lavanya into this, Dean. And I don't stand wrong here. If your Father had never plunged me into this hunting business, Maa would be with me today and I wouldn't have to witness Lavanya's body mercilessly burning in my house! And don't you dare deny it." Arnav was now poking Dean's chest.

Sam knew this would go too far if he didn't stop them. He got up and pushed the two apart. "Enough guys! Just stop it! Dean..."

Before Sam could say anything Dean went inside the bathroom and slammed the door shut. Sam turned to Arnav. Arnav went out the motel room leaving him to think alone.

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Payal crossed her arms across her chest. "But Khushi. It's not entirely your fault. You earnestly apologized after you were told the truth. He owes you an apology too. His behavior was not civil. I mean...does he know about your parents?"

"No Payal. It is my fault. I don't think before I speak. I should have been careful. Especially with him. And besides...I don't think he has what it takes to say sorry."

"What do you mean?"

"Payal..." Khushi brought her hand close to her face. "He was...he was this close to me Payal. There was no way I could miss the pain in his eyes. It was inevitable. There was hurt and anger. A lot of it. It just made me forget everything else. I felt...I felt something strange connect between us. I just know it...behind all that hard exterior...he is an emotional mess."

"And how are you so sure? Have you seen your palms? They are turning purple Khushi! And you call him an emotional mess? He needs help bestie!"

Khushi smiled, her eyes twinkling all of a sudden. "And you? Your cheeks are turning an adorable shade of pink! Let me guess...you fell into the arms of the only sane one. What was his name? Oh yeah...Sam. Sam! Right?"

Payal aimed a cushion at Khushi's face. "Shut up Khushi!"

The room echoed with the tinkling laughter and ebullient giggles of the friends.

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Arnav stared at the ceiling as he lay on his bed. An ugly image creeped into his mind.

Her eyes begged him for help as her lifeless body pinned to the ceiling, draped in a somber white, burned between the merciless flames. He could hear her silent pleas and horrifying cries. "SAVE ME ARNAV! SAVE ME!" And he couldn't do a thing to save her as his body lay curled in the corner of the room. But he could read her eyes as she breathed her last. And what they said, scared him. "This is all your fault Arnav! You dragged me into this! I lost my life...because of you! You!"

Arnav removed his eyes off the ceiling.

"This is all your fault! Your fault Arnav!"

Arnav covered his ears with his hands and closed his eyes. His shirt clung to his restless body, his entire form drenched in sweat. "No! No! It's not my fault!" He whispered.

"Your fault Arnav. Your fault! You dragged me into this!"

"No! No! Lavanya...I loved you...I still love you! I could never kill you!"

"Your fault! I lost my life because of you!"

"No...no...Maa...Maa...help me...help...I need you Maa...please...help me.." He scraped his hands off his ears and rested his head on the pillow as he felt his Mother's soft hand on his forehead. His body relaxed and his breathing steadied when his Mother's kangans gifted their serene music to his ears. "Sshhh...Arnav beta. I am here. Relax. Don't worry. It's not your fault. Go to sleep. Go to sleep Dear." Arnav felt at peace. He felt tranquil as he finally drifted off to sleep.