Sorry guys it has been long. Life is finally catching up with me with loads of work. I promise to try and be more regular.I am sorry this update is going to be tough o Arnav and Khushi. Time for another phase of their life to begin.
Many of you may find parallels with the show in the ARHI scenes. Well, let's have some of that stuff here too!
Chapter 53
Anjali walked up and down in agitation.
Where was Karan?
She had been trying from the morning and there had been no response at his mobile number, his clinic or his landline number. By the middle of the afternoon she had gathered enough courage to ake up her mind to go to his house and find out.
She had his address. She would find the house somehow with the help of her driver.
She hunted for the address for a good 1 hour, as it was at the other end of Delhi which she or her driver were not accustomed to.
When Anjali reached the house, after a lot of searching, she rang the bell many times.
As she stood waiting, the worry grew...
After Arnav left for office Khushi sat down to think about the God Bharai...the way Arnav repented his hasty marriage, his public apology...everything.
Khushi knew he would not say the words she wanted to hear. She knew he would not say that what he said about her father was wrong.
She knew him very well. He would show his regret through actions, but he was poor with words.
She had to tell him the truth...and let him live in peace...
Arnav was thinking of Khushi too.
His heart swelled with pride at the thought of her...she was nothing short of an angel,,,
Always forgiving
Always so loving
Always so understanding...
And he?
He had never quite been the nicest husband to her. But he would change that.
He loved her and he would give her all the happiness she deserved.
He had to tell her that he had gotten over her father...that the past did not matter
Lavanya had done all the crazy things NK had suggested.
She had tea at the roadside stall.
She had jogged in the heat.
But revenge was sweet.
So at 11'o clock she told NK "Get ready buddy...we are going some places awesome'
In no time at all NK was sitting in a beauty parlor. Lavanaya made him wait in the lounge and disappeared for 3 hrs. When she emerged NK was fast asleep with tons of magazines strewn in front of him, indicating he had read them all. Lavanya grinned. Serve him right for waking her up at 5.30.
Next she whirled him off for a shopping trip. She shopped in 3 malls for 5 hours and made him hold all the bags.
'La what the hell are you up to? Are you going to kill me?" NK complained.
'Oh no. I thought you would enjoy shopping and mall hopping in incredible India' she grinned wickedly.
Next she made him sit in the passenger seat and took the driver's seat.
She drove crazily though the traffic breaking speed limits and applying sudden breaks.
'La what the hell! We may be killed' NK screamed in genuine fear.
'If we did not die while riding the bike, we defenitely won't die in the car ride,' she grinned.
After a few more bumpy turns and breaks NK said 'Stop La. Stop. I give in. No more ncredible India trips for you',
Lavanaya grinned triumphantly. 'That's like a good boy. Next time you wake up La at 5.30, you will get far worse,' she grinned.
MK grinned back, 'Ok. I won't. But promise me you will never drive me ever,' he said and Lavanya laughed heartily.
Once again both of them were surprised at how much fun they had together...
When the door finally opened Anjali was shocked to see a haggard looking Karan. From his bloodshot eyes, Anjali figured out he was drunk and he was a mess and he seemed to have been crying.
She turned to leave, realizing this was not a good time to intrude on his privacy.
As she whirled around Karan's voice rang out 'Don't go'.
Surprised Anjali turned and hesitated.
'Stay. I want to talk to someone,' he pleaded.
Anjali turned around and went in with him because something in her heart could not turn away someone in need.
'What's wrong Karan?' she asked as mildly as she could.
'Today is her birthday,' he said in a wobbly voice.
'Whose? Your wife's?" Anjali asked.
'no...my little Ira's,' he said.
'Who is she?' Anjali asked puzzled.
'My daughter...my Ira...she went so far away...she is there ' he said pointing to the sky.
Anjali was shocked beyond measure. Karan had a daughter? And the child was no more?
'Karan I am so sorry to hear this. I did not know,' she said.
'Well now you know, can you get her back? No. My wife thinks I don't hurt as much as she does. She thinks I could have saved Ira had I earned more. But I could do nothing...she was born with a hole in the heart...I tried my best to give her a lot of medical attention...but ...my earnings were not enough for the expensive medical treatment needed all the time. Still she managed to fight for life...till one day her tiny heart decided to leave papa,' this time there were tears in his eyes.
Anjali's heart constricted with pain and tenderness. All she knew was that he needed to be consoled. She reached out and held his hand and squeezed it.
'Karan I can do nothing to ease your pain...but if there is anything, tell me,' she said.
He shook his head, but he did not let go of her hands. He pulled her to him with a sudden tug and buried his head in her hair...much to the shock of Anjali who stood motionless...
ASR came back home from office and found Khushi pottering around the kitchen.
'Hello sunshine,' he said lounging against the kitchen door.
'You are early,' she smiled as she came towards him and gave him a hug.
'Of course. I wanted to be with you' he said kissing her.
As they walked back to the living room, Arnav was wondering how to broach the subject of her Dad and tell her he was sorry.
Khushi was puzzling over the same thing and wondering how she would tell him about her father.
'Where is Di?' Arnav asked making small talk to cover his awkwardness.
'I don't know. She took the car and went out in the afternoon. She is still not back,' Khushi said.
Arnav was alarmed.
'Exactly at what time did she leave?' he asked her.
'Around 1, 30' Khushi said.
'Did you ask her where she was going?" he continued.
'Yes. But she said she had some work and rushed off,' Khushi said.
'Did you try calling her?" Arnav asked.
'Yes. A couple of times. But she was unreachable,' Khushi said.
'Why didn't you call me? Di never goes away this long,' Arnav said, worried.
'Arnav I did not find anything to panic. She has gone in our car and I did try to reach her,' Khushi defended.
'Khushi do you realize it has been 6 hours? Di has been gone for 6 hours!' Arnav asked her agitated.
'Arnav calm down. Try calling her,' Khushi said.
'Khushi, she is my sister. How can I be calm?' Arnav retorted.
'Arnav do you think she means nothing to me?' Khushi asked, stung
'Yes she does. But...forget it. Let me just call her,' Arnav said and walked away with the phone.
Just then Anjali entered the house, looking tired and a little flustered
'Di...where were you?' Arnav asked.
'Relax chote. I had gone to see Dr Karan,' Anjali said.
'For this long? Why? Is something wrong? Are your sessions going fine?" he asked.
'I am fine.I just had to see Dr Karan about something,' Anjali said. Arnav did not notice the slight blush on her cheeks or the way she averted her eyes. But Khushi did.
Khushi's interest peaked. Why was Di blushing at the thought of Dr Karan? Had she missed something? Was Di possibly interested in Karan? Khushi's heart jumped with joy. This was the very thing she wanted for Di...a man like Karan. He seemed genuine. Was she jumping to conclusions? What if Karan turned out to be like Shyam?. Khushi was worried. But if Anjali did not take the chance she would never find another man for herself'.Khushi thought.
'Arnav relax. I am fine,' Anjali said and walked away.
Arnav was agitated that his Di did not explain her whereabouts to him. Why did she go to meet Karan? Was something wrong? He had to know. He completely forgot his resolve to talk to Khushi about her father.
Khushi watched her husband pace the toom in silence. He was just the same about Anjali...protective...over protective. Caring...to the extent of being blind to everything else.
Was she jealous? No. But deep down it hurt that he never trusted anyone else when it came to Anjali. Not even her...What if Di wanted to get married again...to a man like Karan? Would Arnav see it was good for her? Would he let her go? She had to prepare him mentally.
'Arnav Di is not a child anymore. She is a grown woman who can do what she wants,' Khushi said gently.
'No Khushi. She does not know the world. She needs protection. I don't want another tragedy in her life...whatever is the cost,' Arnav said firmly.
'But Arnav. Di is still young. What if she wanted to marry again? Would you interfere there also?" Khushi asked, genuinely concerned that Anjali may not find happiness if Arnav stopped her from spreading her wings again. Something in her heart told her that Anjali may find happiness with Karan.
'Are you kidding Khushi? After what Di has gone through with Shyam? Do you think she will marry again?' Arnav asked incredulously.
'If she does? If she wants to? How will she meet someone if you are so over protective?' Khushi asked.
'Enough Khushi I don't want to hear anymore on this topic.
Do you know what all she has gone through from the age of 19? First it was due to your father and then it was shyam and having to deal with the fact that her brother loved the same woman who her husband also loved...' the moment the words were out of his mouth Arnav knew he had gone too far...something he always did...
Khushi looked at him stunned...
And Arnav would remember this day and these words for a very long time in the future...
Edited by rima - 13 years ago
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