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Part 6
Khushi woke up disoriented and groggy, after what seemed like days to her. Her head hurt and so did her back. The doctor had told her she'd been hit by a car, but she didn't seem to have broken any bones. She found it weird to have survived an accident without breaking anything. But then, she didn't even remember having an accident so nothing could be stranger than that, could it?
She struggled to sit up, cursing the tubes and wires which restricted her movements. She found her sister sleeping beside her, on some kind of makeshift bed which the hospital might have provided. The wall clock opposite her showed that it was six thirty in the morning.
"Jiji?" he called, her voice hoarse from sleeping so much. Payal didn't hear her. Khushi cleared her throat and tried again. "Jiji!" she called a little loudly. Payal woke up with a start.
"Huh? What? What happened? Khushi where are you?" she cried, looking around wildly.
"I'm right here, jiji"
Payal spotted her sitting up in bed and heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank God you're awake".
"How long have i been sleeping?"
"A few hours"
Khushi nodded, her eyes scanning her sister's face. She looked tired. And then she saw it. The small but clearly visible blood red mark on her forehead. The sign of being bound in matrimony. The sindoor. Shocked, Khushi looked at Payal's neck in order to confirm she was not hallucinating. And there it was, the delicate little piece of jewellery made of tiny little black and golden beads. Mangalsutra. But how? When? If she had met with an accident before the marriage, how in the world was her sister married?
"Let me explain, Khushi" Payal said "But you have to promise to listen to me first, without asking any questions. Hear me out and then I'll answer each and every one of them, okay?"
Khushi bit her lip uncertainly, unsure of what to expect. Hesitantly, she nodded.
"You met with an accident on the day of my marriage. We rushed you to the hospital in Lucknow, but they said that the chances of you surviving were low and that they couldn't do anything about it. We then decided to shift you to delhi as the doctors here were much better, and so were the facilities. Amma and babuji still had hope. So Akashji, my husband, helped us with everything. After we brought you here, your condition deteriorated even further and we all thought we'd loose you forever. The doctor said you needed some words of encouragement as sometimes miracles could happen when people least expected things to work out. That was when Arnavji, Akashji's brother, decided to go and talk to you. No one knows what he told you but Dr. Verma believes that his words reached you somehow and they brought you back. When you started getting better, Akashji suggested a simple marriage ceremony, just so that we could give you the good news when you woke up". Payal let out a deep breath as she narrated the carefully made up story to Khushi. She only hoped that Khushi was confused enough to overlook the loopholes in it.
Khushi, on the other hand, was totally confused. Akash? That was her jijaji's name? True, she had never met him in person, but as far as she knew, the man Payal was supposed to marry was called something else. She couldn't remember his name, but she was sure it wasn't Akash. And Arnav? She hadn't even heard his name before.
"Who is Akash, jiji? Weren't you supposed to marry someone called- well, someone NOT called Akash?" she asked. Payal shook her head.
"Of course not, Khushi! His name was Akash. How could you forget that?" she replied, pretending to be offended at khushi's carelessness.
"Oh. Umm.. sorry jiji. Akash jijaji, then. And Arnav? Who is he? i mean, i've never heard of him before. Nobody mentioned his name during the wedding preparations".
"he's Akashji's cousin. So maybe that's why we didn't mention him much. But he's a nice person, khushi. He helped us a lot".
Khushi nodded. Then another thought struck her.
"Wait!" she cried "did you say we were in Delhi?"
Payal simply nodded in conformation.
"How did you bring me here? I mean, if i was injured, you couldn't have brought me here by train or bus, right? Then, how..?"
"Arnavji owns a helicopter. We brought you here in that"
"What? Zindagi me pehli baar hum ude aur humein pata bhi nahi chala! But- if i travelled from Lucknow to Delhi, how come I didn't feel anything?"
Payal hit her gently on the head. "because you were unconscious, stupid!" she said, and laughed. "And now, if you're done with all your questions, let me tell you that you're being discharged today. So you better get ready".
"Really?" squealed Khushi in delight. "i am? Oh my god, that's wonderful! I was bored to death here! I want to go to buaji's house, meet everyone and make lots and lots of jalebi's for them! And then we'll go on a city tour together and eat out and then we'll-"
"Slow down, slow DOWN!" laughed Payal "Tum aisa kuch bhi nahi karogi, understand? You need to rest for at least a week before you go out anywhere, get it?"
Khushi pouted in disappointment but soon brightened up at the prospect of leaving this sickly place and going out in the open.
******
Arnav stood at the door as a spectator to the whole conversation. He was the one who had come up with the theory of the 'partial truth'. He'd asked Payal to tell Khushi about Akash and the rest of the Raizada family, but not about her broken marriage. She didn't need to know what wasn't necessary. It was better that Khushi at least knew about all the family members before she met them. The rest could be explained later.
Last night, he'd had a lot of time to think over what had happened to him. His guilt had known no bounds yesterday as the memories of all the times he'd wounded Khushi, mentally and physically had come flooding back to him, tormenting him endlessly and making him believe that this was life's way of seeking revenge. But he'd also realized something. Khushi had forgotten him completely. It meant that she did not remember even one single moment of the time she'd spent with him in these past eighteen months.
Arnav Singh raizada hadn't broken her heart. Arnav Singh raizada hadn't insulted her, wronged her or hurt her in any way. Hell, Arnav Singh Raizada did not even exist for her! He had paid for all he'd done in the past but maybe life had given him a second chance because he loved her. And love was the purest of them all. Love always won, no matter how impossible the task might be.
And he wasn't going to let this chance slip away. He was going to get her back. He was going to replace all those lost moments with new ones. Moments which would be more beautiful, filled with love and happiness. He wouldn't give her a chance to walk out of his life ever again. Khushi Kumari Gupta would fall in love with him all over again and this time, there would be no mistakes.
He'd felt as if someone had stabbed him in the heart when he had heard Khushi saying that she had never even heard of him before. But soon, he thought, soon his name would be all that she was going to remember. He was going to fill her life with happiness and would never let a single teardrop escape here eyes.
"Welcome back, Khushi Kumari Gupta" he said, with that adorable smirk lighting up his face again. "Singh Raizada", he added.
******
"Jiji?" Khushi whispered "What is this place? Where have you brought me?" she asked, looking at the huge bungalow in front of her with a mix of awe and fright. Had her buaji won a lottery or something, she wondered, because there was no way that this was the house she remembered spending her childhood in.
"Just come with me, will you khushi?" payal told her irritably. Khushi might have lost her memory, but she hadn't lost the habit of chattering away non-stop at the top of her voice. Payal could bet that the auto-wala was truly glad when they both got off his auto.
"But where are amma and buaji? Why aren't they waiting for me outside? And ye kiska ghar hai, jiji?" she asked, totally flabbergasted.
"Would you mind following me quietly for once, khushi kumari gupta?" payal asked "without saying a word" she added. Khushi pretended to zip her lips and throw the key behind her. Khushi walked slowly behind Payal, her back beginning to bother her now. The auto ride had taken its toll on her injury. She spotted the name plate as she entered through gate.
'SHANTIVAN' it read.
so??? how was it??? catch all the shantivan action in the next part when arnav officially meets khushi!!! 😃 hope u all liked it and do keep reading! DON'T forget to comment coz i always say.. its a pleasure reading what you guys write...
for those who would like a pm, please buddy me.. until next time then!!! 🤗
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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