Part 2
With Aneesh's voice being spread around in Shantivan, all gasped. Khushi who was in the kitchen and Payal who was feeding her the breakfast, both jerked up, then the little girl jumped down from the kitchen slab & started running to the main door.
Naani's face lit up a little when she saw him.
"So today too without informing??" Anjali flashed a little smile.
Amidst all, stood he with a radiant smile drawn in his lips. He took the ray bans off.
"Khushi?? Where is she??" He asked.
"Namaste AMAN ji!! I'm here!" Out came the tiny voice ringing.
The little Khushi's papa, Aman Mathur, the same Aman who was the assistant of ASR long time back, turned to the place hoping to see her angelic face!
"Kushii!!" He exclaimed stretching his hands to her for a hug! The little angel ran to him and hugs him tight.
"Gudiya!! Bad manners how many times Di-Maami has told you not to call your papa from the name!" Anjali asked firmly. Khushi smiled, munching the jalebi that Aman has already fed her.
"Rehene do di..I feel better when she calls me that! It reminds me of Khushi Bhabhi" Aman said weakly. Silence spread over the hall. All sighed and Akash came and the two men shared a hug. Aman took Aashirvad from Naani then.
"Hello hai bye bye!! Aagaya hamari Aman!
"Ji maamiji.." He smiled again.
"Areey come and sit ho jao.. Hari Parkaash, get the tea and birekfast readyj! Coming soon!" Maami was beyond happy.
After the tragic loss of it's beloved couple Arnav - Kushi, one of the two happy occasions for Shantivan was Aman's arrival and the other was kids' pranks and plays.
All got seated in the hall.
"So how Is the Mumbai branch doing Aman?" Akash asked.
"Quite good, we bagged some good projects Akash.."
"Has to be dude, after all our director is looking after it right!"
"No Akash it isn't so...ASR was, is and will always be our director no matter that he's no more with us.." Aman sighed. Akash held his hands, He was so grateful to Aman. According to Bhai's last will, the power of attorney on his all property was transferred in Khushi's name, but Khushi too passed away the next night so the next named people were Akash and Anjali. Akaash witnessed Khushi's death and so did Anjali. In fact Akash could never forgive himself for not being able to save his Bhabhi at least. So after that he passed over the power of attorney to Aman. Anjali never stepped to AR either, she too just passed her powers to Aman with lot of denial at first, Aman accepted their request, & Afterwards Aman Mathur took over AR group's sole responsibilities. But never; never ever had he scribbled off ASR's name from any of the documents ever. In his view, AR group will forever be in his ASR sir's name. No matter what, he never took ASR's seat even. Everything was the same as Arnav left 5years ago, the only thing lacking was his presence! Akash felt his eyes moistening. The loss was never bearable. All what he got was another bhai, who was Aman of which akash is really glad, but loosing his BHAI and BHABHI who helped him to win his love! That pain, that guilt could never be erased! He could never wipe Payal's tears henceforth. He looked at aman.
"Aman you..I really don't know how to thank y..."
"Akash..ab mein bhai hoon tera.. hein na? So then you cannot thank me alright! Whatever I'm doing..all are for this family and for ASR.." Aman said calmly. akash nodded while anjali wiped off a tear. akash got a call.
"Di I'll freshen up & come" said aman.
"Theek hein" she tried to smile. Looking at aman walking up the stairs, she remembered Chotte, the tears freshened up.
Aman was in the terrace with Kushi and Aneesh when Anjali entered there.
"Chalo bachcho. First have your tea and then play!!" She called up. The kids sat on the swing and started having tea.
"Aman bhai, your tea" she handed over the cup to him, getting to him who was near the short wall looking around the garden.
"Thanks di" he started sipping it.
"Aman may I ask something??" She asked, seeing Khushi who was laughing with Aneesh.
"Of course di.." He smiled.
" Our Gudiya ki mumma kaha hein aman?? "
Aman's face changed.
"Di please..you already know that I don't wanna talk anything regarding this.."
"Please aman, try to understand. She is a girl. She better have her mumma with her..
"Di, uske saath Aap sab hein..hum hein so what's more" aman nodded.
"Aman bhai one thing I need to tell..a request, you always think about us, at least think a bit about yourself too, think of Gudiya a little.."
" Di u mean??"
"Yes..aman get married.."
"NO di please no ways. I can look after myself. I have a lot to do for ASR! If it even takes a lifetime I do not mind. I'll always stay as this and would do my duty,," he concluded.
"Stubborn, totally like..."
"ASR nah,di?"
Anjali nodded.
"He's everywhere aman, khushi's too everywhere! They both are yet with us" she whispered.
"They will always be" he said, finishing the tea.
"Di I gotta get ready. I'm going"
"WHAT?? To go? But where? Aman you came few hours ago! "
"Yeah di but I'm sorry. I'm off to Mumbai tonight."
"This can't be done everyday Aman! Handover the work to an assistant and be in Delhi.."
"No di..my presence in Mumbai is really important and akash will look after everything here in Delhi.." Aman got interrupted by a call.
"Yeah keep it ready. I'd be back tonight.." He cut the line.
"Yeah so di..I got to get ready.. I'll get back soon when I get a chance ok. Now don't get upset di..I'll try to come soon as possible... "He smiled assuring and left from there.
"Ye aman hamesha mumbai kyun jaatha hai??" Anjali talked to herself in frustration. Her eyes casted on kushi.
"Shyad aman ko gudiya ki mumma ka yaad aaya hein he gets so engrossed in the work so that it'd help him forget everything" she sighed, sitting next to the kids.
"Aman bituwa this shouldn't be done everyday.." Naani started when all were gathered to the entrance to bid farewell to Aman.
"Daadi ma yes I admit, I should have been here. But I'm helpless. My presence there is a must"
Aman said.
"Bituwa samjaane ki goshish kijiye the more you stay busy with your work, the more will Khushi be away from you. Look at her, your busy schedule has distanced you two. She doesn't mind about your departure even! She has got use to it so much that she has no feelings that you are leaving even! Why are you distancing her?" Naani asked pointing at Khushi who was seated in the staircase, chatting with Aneesh.
"Daadi maa eisa kuch nahi hein and I'll try to come soon as possible. You all please take care of yourselves" Aman bent down and took elders' Blessings. He bid farewell to all.
"Mohan get the car out!" He called and left.
All felt empty again.
**************
It was night now. All had a silent dinner and returned to their rooms, so did akash, taking payal's plate to the room as she couldn't eat as Abhi was crying all the time. Abhishek was their 8months old son.
Akash entered the room. He kept the plate aside silently as he saw payal looking into Khushi's portrait, with tears flowing down her cheek.
It was a usual scenario, but each time he saw that, he felt a dragger piercing his heart. He kept his hand on her shoulder.
"Payal"
She flinched and turned to him.
"She would have been 25 today akash.."
She sobbed; He held her shoulders slightly, nodding his head.
"Akash why am I alive to see this day from my eyes!!??"
Payal questioned weakly.
"Shhh payal.. Please take a grip on yourself!"
She crashed to his chest, weeping. He hugged her tightly, and caressed her head, trying to ease away her pain.
"Akash I couldn't believe that 5years are gone. I still feel both of them with us, here in this house."
She said while sobbing more.
"I know payal,I know. They are still here near us, they'll always be.."
Akash said, heartbroken.
"Itni saalo ke baad bi mein uss raat kabhi bhool nahi sakte akash, kabhi nahi''
She stammered weakly again and hugged him tight. Akash and Payal both closed their eyes tight.
*FLASHBACK*
Arnav's body was finally placed in the mid of the hall, preparing for the final rites. Anjali was weeping while Maami was hugging Naani and crying. Payal and Akash were still staring blankly, unable to digest the truth, and Aman was sitting next to Maamaji and NK, grieving.
"Thud"
The main door jerked open and all looked on. The sight shocked them, after 3months of disappearance, in front of them stood SHE! Her face pale and eyes lifeless.
Bare feet covered with dust and blood flowing on her soles indicating that she has run bare feet all the way.
She was breathing fast. Her lips were shivering. The girl who Arnav searched for, until the end. Kushi,
Kushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, was at the door. Her eyes caste directly on the corpse kept at the middle!
"Kushi ji!!"
Anjali muttered.
Kushi kept moving forward slowly. Not responding to anything!
"Kushi bitiya"
Naani called, yet no answer.
"Kushi"
Payal tried, maami tried, yet her eyes were still on the corpse.
"Kushi bhabi"
Aman tried but no she didn't stop. She reached the body, her hair untidily falling down her shoulders, her lips parted trying to say something.. She fell, she fell lifelessly next to him. Her hands kept shaking.. Hardly had she called,
"A..arnavv ji!?"
Silence, a deathly silence.
"ARNAV JIII"
She screamed.. Screamed, screamed and screamed his name,,
"Arnav ji!! Uto!! Arnav ji get up!! Arnav ji don't joke! Can't you hear me!! Arnav ji!! Arnav ji!!"
No one couldn't resist her screams. All kept on crying..
"I came arnav ji.. Kushi came back to you,,aakhe kholiyenaa Arnav ji,..please open your eyes..look at me arnav ji look at me.."
She screamed. No one could near her. She was crying frantically!
"Rakshas uto..uto laad governer..ye drama bandh karoo!!"
Kushi screamed and fell on his chest, hugging his body. And at the next moment, she jerked up. She stood up and started wiping her hands and body as if she has touched something wrong..
"NO.NO.NO.NO..."
She started screaming madly. All couldn't get what happened..
Kushi looked around with burning eyes.
"This is not my arnav ji..I know him..I know him better than anyone. This isn't him. This isn't him!!"
She started shouting. payal and anjali held her from sides
"Kushi ji pls take a grip on yourself.."
"Nahi di,ye aapki chotte nahi hein..nahi hein..it isn't him! Trust me!!"
"Look at him kushi,,it's Arnav ji..try t.."
"Jiji it is not him, It is NOT!!"
She struggled and gets herself free from payal's and Anjali's clutches!
Running towards arnav's picture she blew off the lamp lit before it and took off the garland on the picture and threw it aside..
"My arnav isn't dead! He's alive..he's alive..he's alive..he's alive..he is..he is.."
She fainted. while maami and naani held her before being banged on floor.
"Akash call a doctor..jaldi!!"
Anjali screamed.
"She's in a state of shock. Please look after her.."
Doctor said, moving out of the room in which kushi was kept, unconscious!
"Thank you doctor"
Said akash and all moved out of the room.
"Let her be as for now"
They all agreed and moved down. naani, maami and anjali again sat near the corpse while payal went to anjali's room to bring her medicine. akash, aman,maama and NK were in a corner of the hall talking to panditji regarding the funeral. May be a half an hour went.
"aakash bhaiya!!"
Hari prakash came running. All looked up.
"Kya hua?"
"Bhaiya kushi bhabhi is not in the room!!"
All stood up as one.
"What?? But we all were here!! Where is she??" Just then the guards enter the house.
"Akash sir! Akash sir Kushi ma'am!! She left the house!!"
"Slaaan"
The glass slipped off from payal's hand.
"Akash!! Akash please save her akash!"
Payal screamed.
"Payal! Payal calm down! Kuch nahi hoga kushi ko! I'll bring her back I promise"
Akash stammered
"What the hell were you all doing when she left?? Don't you know the condition here?"
He bashed the guards.
"Let's inform the police.."
Maami said and aman grabbed the mobile and dialled.
"Hey Devi Maa! Yey kya ho raha hein hamari parivaar ko?"
Naani was crying.
"Nk, Aman let's go. Come on.. Papa please stay back and look after them.."
Akash advised.
"Akash I'm coming with you all"
Anjali said, weeping.
"No di no! You can't come..in this condition!?"
"There's nothing more worse that can happen akash..I'm coming"
"Di ple.."
"Akash I'm coming that's it.."
It wasn't a time to argue; all rushed out and got into vehicle.
It was heavily raining..
At a roadside they halted and Aman and NK got down..
"Did you all see this girl anywhere??"
They asked from all, showing Khushi's picture but no one seemed to have seen her! They walked from place to place..
"Yes this girl!! I saw her running down this road like half an hour before"
One said and the two guys got into the vehicle..
"This way"
Aman showed and Akash drove fast..
"Aakash drive fast!! Hey Bhagwaan Kushi ji ke raksha karoo"
Anjali prayed. All were scared. And when they couldn't trace anything they were more tensed. The vehicle was getting to the dead end of the road which ends with a steep rocky slope with the deep lake at the bottom.
"Aakash why is she not to be seen??"
Anjali was screaming..
All got down.. NK and akash called her name out.
"Kushi ji!!"
Darkness.
Silence.
All over, nothing else! Anjali's eyes was directed on the lean figure which was walking to the front, many more feet's away from them!
"A..akash vo vo kushiji,,Kushijiii"
Anjali screamed!
They all saw her then! it was raining heavily that kushi didn't hear them!
"Kushi stop!!"Akash screamed as they saw she was frantically moving towards the end of the slope!
"Kushi ji"
She wasn't hearing them.
Unknown to them, all what she saw was her Arnav's smiling face appeared in front of her!
"Come to me" He was calling her and that's what she only heard! Nothing, nothing else at all!
"Kushi ji rukhiye"
Anjali screamed.
All ran as fast as they could, they prayed to make her safe, the rain was heavy!
"Kushi ji!!"
NK and anjali screamed, and that was the last chance! a second before they could get to her, Kushi fell off from the cliff over to the deep water!!
The little hope they had got wiped away!
The remaining shards of their broken world minced to dust,
They lost her forever!
Khushi reached Arnav finally!
"Kushiii"
They screamed!
*FLASHBACK ENDS*
Payal jerked open her moist eyes, to see Akash all broken down..
"I'm sorry Payal.. I'm sorry"
They both cried, hugging each other tight.
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PS :- This is NOT written by me! But posting it on behalf of my friend..!!! Most of you must have read this in the Face Book Page :- Written Updates - IPKKND...!!!
Part 3 :- Scroll Down :-
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Edited by sanaroxx - 12 years ago
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