Arnav didn't realize when he fell asleep beside her bed, with his hands securely holding that of hers, with his head resting beside her as he was sitting on a bed-side chair. It was merely a sleep of not more than couples of hours. It was not like he had a very good sleep, to be more precise sleep is the last thing he is concerned about, however the eventful past few days, his sleepless nights, his continuous worry and restlessness has resulted in a way that his eyes gave off and he more or less dozed off sitting beside her.
He felt her hand that was held in his hands trembled suddenly and he immediately snapped open his eyes and held her hand stronger which came as an instant action to assure her. He then looked at her only to find her eyebrows squeezed in, her closed eyes seemed as if she is witnessing something scary, her forehead showed little droplets of sweat and her hand in his hands gripped his fingers tighter.
"Khu-khushi--" he immediately reached the level of her face and caressed her hair in order to ease her. "Khushi" he called again.
She then inhaled what seemed like she recognized his presence and drifted back into sleep. He smiled for himself; if his egoistic and regretful self wouldn't deny, he more or less enjoyed the feeling of giving her comfort to such a level that now he could see her eyebrows relaxed back and her closed eyes seemed at ease. He brought his hand from her hair on to her forehead while his other hand still made sure held that of hers. But the moment his hand touched her forehead, he winced at the temperature it held. Panic suddenly took over him.
Making sure she is sound asleep, he very carefully let go of her hand, kissing the tips of her fingers and quickly made his way to the early morning doctor who have just arrived. The doctor and the nurse were brought in within a few minutes and they once again checked her completely.
"Her temperature seems pretty high Mr.Raizada, fever seems strange, are you aware if she is allergic to any medicines or any kind of complex treatment?" the doctor asked at an immensely worried Arnav.
"I--I don't know" he said blankly being extremely ashamed of it. Seriously it never came across him of any such thing. He is diabetic, he is allergic to mosquito repellant, and there are hell lot of other things which she is very well aware of, but he? It's not that she had any kind of health problems and he isn't aware of, but he genuinely isn't aware of any kind of complexities that Khushi could possibly have. He never even wanted to think about her in those terms. If he hadn't realized before, he did know--that thinking of medical aspects about his Khushi makes him restless if that makes any sense.
"Don't Panic Mr.Raizada, it seems like a normal fever, but just let me know when she wakes up again, and I'll have another brief over of regular checkups. As of now I've induced antibiotics in her saline, the temperature should come down soon, don't worry" he assured him whilst smiling encouragingly and left from there.
He returned back to her and his heart felt heavy just by looking at her. She had been just having those liquids from the saline and he knew how much she hated to be away from her usual chat-pat food. He brought in a white cloth with a bowl of cold water and tried to reduce the temperature by placing it on her forehead.
**
Anjali and Akash along with the whole family have arrived in the morning as soon as the visiting hours started. Khushi woke up a little after an hour after they arrived. She felt as though she had woken up after ages, she looked dizzy and completely worn out even after such a long sleep; all thanks to her heavy antibiotic dose. Nevertheless she greeted everyone with the same enthusiasm and she was genuinely glad that everything seems to be normal and alright given the fact that Arnav was now right beside her.
"Chote, aap thodi dher ghar jaake ayiyega, hum sab yahan hai na, aap thoda fresh hoke ajayiye" Anjali suggested after observing her tired brother.
"Nahin di, I'm fine" he said realizing khushi's grip on his hand being tightened. He have been observing her the whole night and somehow felt that it was right now more important to do what she wants him to do rather than to protest and give her his piece of way again. After all the Arnav in ASR gets hold sometimes and he really cant help it with such pleading eyes looking at him in a loving way and keeps telling him that she have to be protected.
"aapne aakke dawayiya lee?" Khushi asked all of a sudden as if she just remembered about it.
Surprised like everyone else with her concern, he smiled trying to assure her. "App chintha mat kijiye Khushiji, maine bhai ko dawayiya dediya" Akash spoke for him and she relaxed.
She is getting tensed about every small thing--he wondered. This looks very unusual, he felt this was strange.
He then glanced around the room watching everyone genuinely concerned for khushi, making normal conversation with her, trying to ease her and his eyes landed on his di. Nothing is normal yet--he thought; There are hell lot of things he should think and sort out. Besides his relation with khushi, he should even take care of his Di who is right now in dark. Letting her know the whole truth is not just tough it is rather scarier. Given a choice, he would rather choose not to, never, but now he knew she should. He has no right to keep her in dark any longer, especially when he now know what shit of a person shyaam could get and how low or for that matter harmful he could fall to get his deeds done.
"Nani patan nahin inka phone do din se nahin lagraha hai" she suddenly uttered while everyone were busy chattering about their own things.
"Anjali bitiya, aap kyun itna--"
Arnav suddenly got up from where he was sitting and made his way towards his di. Anjali was standing alongside khushi bed and Arnav approached her reaching out to the water bottle beside the bed--in that process purposely pushed Anjali's hand a bit that resulted in her cell being dropped onto the floor. It made a cracking sound and he immediately reached to pick it up.
"I'm--I'm sorry di, Maine dekha nahin--" he picked it up and found that the phone is broken and rechecked if it could be switched on back. When he realized it was totally broken, he was satisfied and looked at his Di.
"I'm really really sorry di, voh main" he made his usual soft face.
"Koi baath nahin chote" she smiled encouragingly. "Hum doosra phone khareedlenge, waise hame phone ki inti bhi kya zaroorat hai, bas inka agar phone agaya toh-- toh ye pareshaan hojayenge" it was like she is talking more to her own self. While Nani was the one who looked encouragingly at her, remaining all that included khushi, Arnav,Nk and mami, exchanged sorry looks which only made Arnav realized that everyone were indeed waiting for him to disclose the truth.
"Di, aap bilkul pareshaan mat ho, I'll get you a new phone" He assured.
"Hamey toh is baath ki chintha satarahee hai chote ki inka do din se koi call bhi nahin aya, agar kahin bahaar jarahe toh hame zarror bataate, hame kuch--" She trailed off being the same emotional panic self she is. Arnav caught hold of her face in his two hands and looked at her lovingly.
"Di, is waqk aapko agar kisiki bhi chintha karnee hai, toh voh hai aapke bache ka, Main hoon na, bakhi sab main dekhloonga" he paused making sure he isn't giving her any false promises. "jijaji ko main dekhlunga" he said with such a care filled with anger in his tone which only khushi could recognize instantly. At anjali's smallest wince, he wrapped a hand around her and assured--"bohath jald jijaji aapke saamne honge" by which he with every word meant that --soon shyam's truth will be in front of her.
"Par aap promise karo di, aap hamesha strong rahengee, atleast koshish karengee?" he asked like the usual worried brother he is.
"Chote jab tak aap hamrare saath, hame koi bhi chintha zyada din nahin satapayegee, hai na" it was her turn to assure him back and she hugged him resting her head on his shoulder, a mere sight of which watered everyone's eyes.
He had a plan, he did have a sure shot plan to drag that bloody shyaam bas***d, to hell. In his sleepless times, he just wasn't spending worrying about khushi, he did made a plan and today he finally made his mind to deal with it after finding khushi very much fine. He now knew whom to seek help from--he thought glancing both at mami and NK; he now knew what he should be taking care of--he then glanced at khushi.
He brought his another free hand on to khushi's forehead, smiling lightly at her and she smiled back as if assuring whatever was going on in his mind-- she was with him and he now knew it for sure.
That person--a mere piece of a shit can sure as hell not get away with whatever he has done.
Cheated on his Di---he gave him chance---
Cheated her and her entire family--khushi too gave him another chance..
But risking his khushi's life, continuing to play with Anjali's feelings, Arnav had it enough. He decided--you sure as hell going to be punished for messing up with two most important people in my life..
Khushi had had it enough--he thought. It's now his turn to deal with this garbage bag and he would do all it takes to punish Shyam if it means his way of repentance.
With his hand caressing khushi's hair, his another hand hugging Anjali, Arnav secretly promised himself that as long as he is breathing no could ever even think of hurting these two people in his life.
To be continued...
Apology again, if this was boring, I personally don't really enjoy limiting ArHi, but sometimes its needed...next one coming back a better insight of ArHi..!!!! hope you enjoy..!!
P.S any spelling mistakes, grammar, please correct me, I haven't spoof read this, and did it really fast..!!
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Vasudha
