Destiny's Game- FINISHED FF 10/31 - Page 32

Arnav fiercely drove to St. Luke's Hospital. He tensely asked for Khushi Kumari Gupta. She was in ward 233. He ran at jet speed towards the ward. His Khushi needed him. He finally reached the ward. She was breathing heavily, struggling to even do so. She had bandages around her head. Her arms and face were pierced with glass. He choked back his tears. His Khushi. The one who he promised that he would never hurt. That he would stand in front of her as a shield to danger and death. She was fighting for her life. He pounded the glass wall. NO. God couldn't do this to him. The minute when everything would be fine, everything got ruined. His whole life was turned around. Now, he needed to play his role as a father. A nurse approached his bleeding hand. It was quite severe. She led him to a public ward. He was numb, couldn't feel the acute pain. She bandaged his wound as he thought of all the moments he had spent with Khushi.

~Flashback~

Arnav awoke with Khushi not beside him. He looked around and didn't see her anywhere. Where was she? She knew that he liked to see her face the first thing in the morning. He panicked. He forced open the bathroom door, without even knocking. She wasn't there.

He searched the whole house. Di and Nani hadn't even seen her since morning. She had left her phone in their room. He was worried sick. He sat down and dug his head in his hands, when Khushi walked inside the door with a pooja thali in her hand. He ran towards, took the plate, and placed it on the center table. He grabbed her shoulders and leaned her against the wall.

"Khushi, where the hell were you? I was worried sick for you! You know? You could have at least taken your freaking phone. Or left a note. Or something. Nani and di didn't even know where you were." He breathed calmly, as she cupped his face in her warm hands, that melted his fierce face from a tiger to caramel.

"Arnav ji, I would never leave you for the world. The only force that will take me away from you is death. And I know you will not let that happen." Khushi winked and smiled.

Arnav then lifted her hands away from him, and gave a stern warning, "Khushi, never say these things again. I will never let you leave me. If God takes you away from me, I will pull away and hide you under my heart and not let anyone see you. You'll only be mine, for all eternity." With that, Khushi embraced him in a hug, and proclaimed her love, "I love you dammnit, Arnav ji." Arnav chuckled, "I love you too, Khushi."

~Flashback Over~

Arnav now had to fulfill his role as a father. Something he had been deprived of for four years. Something he wanted to do since his union with Khushi. He took out his phone, and called Muskaan. She angrily picked up the phone, "What do you want, Mr. Raizada? Did you find Khushi?"

"Khushi met with an accident, Muskaan. She's in St. Luke's Hospital in a, in a.. critical condition. Please come here fast, and bring Kirthi. Don't alarm her, though." He choked. He wanted to cry like a baby. How he wished someone would comfort him! Di, Khushi, Ma, someone. He looked up and hopeless. No. He would have to strong. He would have to take care of Kirthi. He would have to fill up four years of depleted love of a father.

Arnav noticed Kirthi running towards him. Muskaan was not too far behind. Kirthi ran into Arnav and gave him a warm hug. "Papa." Kirthi cried. This melted him. The same feeling he felt whenever Khushi embraced him, only greater. He cried tears of happiness. He picked her up, a kissed her forehead, arms, and hands. Kirthi also kissed her papa, "Where were you, papa? I missed you. You were always so busy. You even came to my school's charity function! But you didn't tell me that you're my papa." She looked down, and played with her fingers. Arnav sat down and placed her gently on his lap.

"Dear, I didn't know either. If I would've known, I would have pampered you and you and your mama would have been living with me. We would be the happiest family of three. But your mama likes to keep secrets from me." To this, Kirthi laughed, "Haw papa, mama likes to keep secrets? Now no more secrets!" Arnav smiled too, and kissed her forehead.

She held his shoulders and pecked his two cheeks, while Muskaan laughed seeing this adorable moment between the father and daughter. How she wished Khushi could witness this moment! She would treasure it for life. Her smile faded when she thought of Khushi. She felt horrible for her. The moment her life was going to settle, and she was now fighting for life and death.

A nurse rushed out of the ward, and out came Khushi on stretcher. Arnav quickly stood, and asked, "How is she, doctor?" The doctor shook his head. They were taking her to the ICU. She was critical, still. Arnav's whole life slipped under his feet and he felt weak at the knees. He thumped on the chair. Kirthi comforted him, without even knowing what was wrong. Without knowing, that she may never see her mama again. Muskaan wiped her tears with much struggle, and took Kirthi's hand, "Dear, let's go to the canteen and get some ice cream." She held back her tears, as Kirthi's face lit up at the name of ice cream. She took her away as Arnav cried like a baby in his solid hands.

~Flashback~

"Khushi, wake up! Don't leave me like that!" She didn't respond. He shook her. She didn't wake up. "Khushi, I command you to wake up! It's an order. She was unconscious from the blow of falling off a cliff. She had saved him from daunting kidnappers, who had threatened to take his life. But what was the use, if she herself escaped from his grip? He then breathed into her warm, soft lips. He took it as both, passionate kissing and CPR. She didn't wake.

"Khushi, wake up, dammnit!" She just lay there asleep. He picked her up, but she still didn't grip his neck, as she always would. He cried and shook her. He dug his head into her as he cried and screamed at her to wake up. She finally awoke and cupped his face. Having the same effect, he pulled her into a passionate kiss and broke it into a hug. The two lovers were united. "I love you," he said.

~Flashback Over~

Arnav looked up, at the thought of Khushi awakening in his dream. The doctor came out of the ICU. Happily, he put an arm on Arnav's shoulder. "She's safe now. And she should be getting her consciousness soon. We'll shift her to the regular ward and you can meet her. Your prayers and love was what saved her, otherwise, we had given up hope."

Arnav smiled, he was the happiest person in the world. He was grinning from ear to ear, and smirked, "I told you I would snatch you right back. Now, we're perfect. We will be a happy family and I will be the best husband and father, and that's ASR promise." He smiled at the thought of talking to himself, and shook his head. He couldn't control his happiness, and saw them take out the unconscious Khushi and he went with the stretcher to the ward.

Abhi mujh mein kahin

Baaqi thodi si hai zindagi

Jagi dhadkan nayi

Jaana zinda hoon main toh abhi

Kuch aisi lagan iss lamhe mein hai

Ye lamha kahaan tha mera

Ab hai saamne

Issey chhoo loon zaraa

Mar jaaoon ya jee loon zaraa

Khushiyaan choom loon

Yaa ro loo'n zaraa

Mar jaaoon ya jee loon zaraa..

Khushi awoke lightly to see Arnav sitting right beside her. He was looking passionately at her. She almost melted when she remembered everything. Her eyes brimmed with tears, but she was strong. She was Kirthi's mother over Arnav's wife now. Time had molded their relationships differently. Arnav noticed her awake, and he put his hand on hers. Tears were approaching his eyes. Khushi knew what was coming and turned her head. She couldn't say her answer looking at him. He would be shattered. Again.

"Khushi Kumari Gupta, will you marry me again? We will have the perfect family. You, me, and our Kirthi. I will be the best dad and husband. Let's forget the past, and look into the future. The past was just a misunderstanding."

Khushi sobbed and tried her best to say strong. She choked back her tears, and said, "No. I am now not only your wife. But I am a mother now too. In a few years, if you leave me, where will I go with Kirthi? She's a kid, and can't take this."

Arnav stood shocked at her answer, a lone tear fell from his eye, as his dreams started to shatter. "No, I would never do that again. Khushi, I told you, that was a misunderstanding.." Khushi cut him off, "Arnav, please leave me a lone for a while. I need time. This is just too much."

She looked away, and cried her heart away that night. Arnav slowly backed away, not even blinking. He didn't know what to feel. He was shocked and disappointed. Water had spilled all over his dreams. He couldn't stop the ears teeming in his eyes, yet again. It was one day, and Arnav Singh Raizada had never cried so much.

Dil Jude Bina Hi Tut Gaye

Hath Mile Bina Hi Chhut Gaye

Ki Likhe Ne Lekh Kismet Ne

Baar Baar Rod Akhiyan Tainu Jo Na Vekh Sakiyan

Khole Aaye Aaj Kudrat Ne

Kataan Main Ki Ve Din Teri Soth Tere Bin

Main Toh Jiya Na Mara

Chan Se Jo Tute Koi Sapna

Jag Suna Suna Lage

Jag Suna Suna Lage..