Part 7
17th July,2011
Arnav was in his office, he did not want her to feel uneasy, let her be in peace. Why couldn't he control his anger? He was worried about her, but that cannot be the excuse to behave like that.Arnav closed his eyes. He remembered so many things.
His outburst always caused a grave injury to Khushwant.He came back to his senses, when he heard about her miscarriage.As if somebody hit him with a giant stone.What got into him that he made such an attempt? Why he got that much violent ? She had to retaliate someday ,the way she was being abused and assaulted it was bound to happen.He could not take her retaliation because Shyam interfered. His old jealousy was instigated.When his sister slapped him tightly he realised that what blunder he was about to make.
He didn't bother to look back , he just ran away.He was starving all the day, she followed him everywhere with food, "Arnavjee..eat something, else your sugar level will fall, Arnavjee.." she requested him so many times.Possibly she also ate nothing for the entire day.When he was brooding on his own, she came to console him, and being fed up she lost her calm. The way Arnav reacted, that was not forgivable by any means.
Out of his disgust, he stopped his car, and went to a liquor shop.Within a minute he lost all his sense.Later, he found himself in his bedroom.The liquor shop owner called to Randhawa Mansion from Arnav's mobile.Doctor had checked him up, Anjali was standing there.Shyam was talking with the Doctor.Arnav was surprised to see that other members were not there, he expected that Khushwant will not be there, but he looked for others.
Then he heard the sound of engine, Nani and Dadi came back, when they heard about Arnav they just rushed into his bedroom.They were highly worried about him.Nani only informed that she had little sprain on her shoulder,as a precaution she was under observation.Till next evening, Arnav didn't get a glimpse of Khushwant. He himself was very weak.Later, when he went to kitchen to take water, he heard Manorama Mami sulking.
"Manorama, please, stop it..there is enough problem.."
"Bijee, I told you not to bring these Grewals in our family, you see the result now?"
"What they did now?"
"Ask what they will do, Bijee..what Arnav did to her, what if her parents filed case against Arnav?"
Arnav was stunned, was Khushwant dead or injured to that extent that constitutes a penal offence?What happened to her that still she was not there?Where was Akash and Payal?At last he asked Shyam.Shyam gave him the name and address of hospital.
He reached to the hospital and was stopped by Payal."Why are you here now.. hadn't you have enough?"..Payal shouted.
"What was her sin that she was appologising for ? If you had that much hatred upon her then why did you sleep with her?You proposed the marriage,it was your responsibility that in every situation you will stand for her..what you did?You used her..you used her in the worst way..Arnav Singh Randhawa.." Payal started to cry.
"Mr. Randhawa..we were waiting for you..you see..your wife..."..the Doctor went on , each and everything.And Arnav remembered several things, like her tired face, her frequent exhaustion, reluctance to take food, going to bathroom every now and then..the Doctor said about the broken bone..and choked voice. Possibly Akash told him a cock and bull story that some thief entered in her room and he attacked her.
He went to her,she tried to speak but she was not getting her voice..as if someone just left a thunder ball on Arnav.He saw her injured shoulder and her blood spotted hospital gown, she was bleeding in an interval of 2-3 hours..she was still bleeding..nurse came and sent him outside to change her clothes.Now he got the real picture of what he actually did.He only broke her bone.He only made an attempt to murder.He only killed the unborn.
As he came out he saw his father-in-law, banging his head on wall, he couldn't speak..he was trying to get up..he only wanted to take his daughter back.Akash was consoling him..Arnav just caught his feet, "Baojee, I am sorry Baojee...I don't know what got into me, Baojee...give me one chance Baojee..I will never hurt her again..Baojee..."..Arnav begged..
In reply Shashikant Grewal only shoved his hands away.
Garima was crying, she said, "Why did you punish her? She is nobody to us, she is not my own daughter, she is not supposed to carry the burden of our sin, if there is any..why Arnav..?"..He couldn't offer more than his appologies with his folded hands.
"I warned you Bhai..many times..you didn't listen.."..Akash said with a sigh.
She didn't fight back, never.Not even then when her voice became normal.She went to exile, earlier imposed, now self-imposed.Neither Arnav could blame her anymore that she never informed about her pregnancy, how would she notice about herself? The way she was being heckled everyday, it was very much possible that she never thought about her own physical condition.She continued with her poolside bed, she studied there, she sat there, she only came in the room to use the washroom.Payal used to help her if she needed anything. Arnav couldn't recognise his wife when she returned from hospital.
As if any saint cursed her for the lifetime, her face lost the color, the glow she used to have was lost to perpetuity.Now it was his time to wait for her. Not only she refused to share her grief with her husband but also she never uttered a single word for her misery.Every day he waited that she would say something, but all his waiting gave no result.
God knows and she knows, how much pain she got from him.To feel her pain, once he tried with his towel and clasped it around his throat and applied his maximum force..he knew that it was nothing before the pain she got because of him.Through many ways, he tried to feel her pain.Another day, he tied his left hand, and tried to do every work with his right hand only.But nothing could provide him mental peace.If his mother was alive , she would have hated him like anything. He was a sinner.
He wanted to win his wife back.But he only threw her that far from where she couldn't even look back .
"I told you Arnav, don't push her to the corner, you would regret later..." ..Devyani said, while caresing his head with her finger, Arnav's head was on her lap.It has been a long time since Arnav kept his head on her lap.
"Pryayashchitt kar Puttar..isse badi koi saza nahi,.repent for your sin, it will take time, but it is essential...you have to win her back, make her to trust you again...I can see in her eyes..I know how much her heart ached for you, it still aches,but she doesn't express it, she is angry, frustrated..she never cared what Anjali or Manorama or Subhadra told her, but she got deeply hurt everytime by you.Whom you can hurt?Those who love you,isn't it? She is angry with the fact that in exchange of all her care, patience and tolerance you gave her that much pain?She never expected this from you...whom she has except you?If you deprive her, where would she go?"..Devyani said with tearful eyes.
Subhadra wanted to give back the family jewellery to Khushwant,needless to say that Khushwant summarily declined those ornaments.She asked her to perform the worship of the deity.Khushwant told,"I have backlog studies, deity will not write my answers in exam.."..
"Khushwant, you will never forgive me , right?You should not either..I deserve no such consideration..you must punish me.."..Arnav said her one night.In return he got only silence.
Suddenly a knock on his door brought him back to the present."Bhai, you are ready for the meeting?"..Akash was there.
"Hmm..well..I was thinking that, why don't we promote her if she writes something..I mean we can make a collaboration with a publication house, who will publish our regular fashion ventures..and her novel.."..Arnav just said it arbitrarily..
"Bhai..leave her alone, I am damn sure, if you do any such thing, she will leave you forever..don't instigate her temper,she wants to make it on her own, let her do..and your idea is very vague.."..Akash said.
"Hmm."
He just picked up a magazine and turned few pages..his jaws got tight, he read, "The young achiever , Adhiraj Rampal...is still looking for his lady love..."
For him,Adhiraj Rampal means the person who broke all the dreams of his sister.Much to his disgust, almost after a decade, he has returned to India.He left for London just after the death and disaster in Malik family.And now he is in Delhi.But he could not remain angry for more time.What Adhiraj did was nothing in front of his own sins.He has no rights to judge Adhiraj Rampal.
However, he bought a necklace for her on his way back to Randhawa House.
Khushi was reading a novel when he entered in his bedroom."Tabiyat kaisi hai ab? Are you feeling good?"..Arnav asked..
"Huh?Yes..I am fine.."..
"See this, I guess you will like it.."Arnav gave her the box.
"What will I do with it?" Khushi asked while looking at the necklace..Arnav cursed that day when all jewellery were snatched from her.
"I know what you are thinking...but I am trying to leave our past behind..I gave you this as a token of my trust on you, when you will get back your trust on me, then only you wear the necklace.Otherwise I am not forcing you, right now just keep it with you.."..Arnav said and left her astonished.
She kept that in her closet.Payal came there, "You have taken your evening medicine?" she asked..
"Hmm..yes..you met Arnavjee while coming here?"..Khushi asked.
"Yes..why do ask...?"
Khushi showed her the necklace..and told whatever Arnav told her.
"So..you trust him..?"
" I want to..but.."
"It's not easy I know, but Khushi, he will be terribly alone if you leave him. Can't you feel that he is here only because of you? He is living like human being, just because of you...you were always patient with him. All you need to be a bit patient again,he is all yours, do I need to tell you that?"...Payal said.
"I cannot forget .."
"Try..pretend that you forgot everything, if pretending love can lead to actual love, then why you cannot forget the bitter past? You pretend to forget..you will not even notice that when your pretension became reality..if memories only create distance with your beloved, then it's better to discard those memories.. forget and forgive, I tell you, you will be happiest person at that moment." ..Payal said..
"If only I could forget..I would be the happiest...but I cannot..."..Khushwant said in a cold tone which gave a cold shiver through Payal's backbone.
Edited by yakkudimag - 12 years ago
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