SS: Keeping Khushi (Part 14 Updt on Th 2) - Page 39

(-NishaSobti-, u rock!)

Part 7

Arnav stood there, watching Khushi and Chotu leave, pass through the gate, and disappear from his sight, unable to speak or move.

(iluvarshi15, thanx)

He looked at the houses and at the keys in his hand that shook slightly. The entire place resounded with emptiness. The silence was louder than a drum played in his ear.

"Sir...?", came Aman's reluctant call from behind him. "The meeting with the delegates from Axis Group...?"

Arnav put his hand with the keys into his pocket, curling his fingers around the keys tightly, savouring the pain that the metal caused.

"Aman, call the Fingerprints detective agency. I want the report on Khushi today. No more delay."

"Sir." Aman sighed soundlessly.

"Did you contact...?"

"Yes, Sir. Khushiji will have no more problems in her career. In fact, she has a lecture demonstration at the University College tomorrow. The organisers were very relieved."

Arnav swallowed hard, a sense of regret & defeat eating into him.

Arnav walked into his house at night, his hold on his bag containing the file on Khushi secure. Aman had managed to get a preliminary report from the detective agency after hanging around the office for hours and forcing the manager to release it before it was time.

"Nannav! Come on, let's watch a movie together!", invited NK.

"Haan, Bhai.", said Akash.

"Chotey, chalo na, please?", Anjali pouted.

"Haan, Arnav Bitwaa, all wark (work) and no play makes Arnav Bitwaa a dull bay (boy)!", added Mami.

"Nannav, we are going to watch Dilwale Dukanniya Le Jayenge!"

"Hello Hi Bye Bye! Dukanniya naahi, dulhaniya, dulhaniya! Matmal bridewaa, bridewaa."

"Oh!" NK looked confused for a second, and then he said, "Sorry!"

By then Arnav was already in his room, the door locked, the bag opened, and the file in his shaking hand.

The file had details only of the present. The agency hadn't had enough time to look into Khushi's past.

She was 21 years old.

Anand Sadan had housed an orphanage that she ran with Pandit Sasi Sharma. The orphanage had been shifted to a house named Omkar, located two streets away from Anand Sadan this week. The building was owned by Sasi Sharma, but had been left locked for the past 10 years.

Both Khushi & Sasi Sharma lived at the orphanage with about 20 children, some studying in schools and some in colleges.

The main source of income was Khushi's concerts. She and Pandit Sasi Sharma also took music classes at the orphanage. They had a legion of students.

The file also had the address of Omkar.

That was all.

Arnav ran an agitated hand through his hair, throwing the file on his bed. So he was right. It was an orphanage. The children weren't hers. He pulled his coat off and threw it on his bed. He then attacked his tie, feeling short of breath. He clawed it off his neck, and discarded it. He walked the length & breadth of his room, his mind going crazy thinking of ways to make her his, realizing that he had gone about it in the worst way possible.

The next noon, Arnav walked into the University College, Aman following close. There was still an hour left for Khushi's programme to begin, but the hall was full. Boys & girls, men & women, students & teachers...all had secured their place in the audience. The hall had large windows, and as Arnav watched, more and more people began to station themselves near the windows to have a glimpse of Khushi.

As he watched, Khushi, Chotu, and a girl, accompanied by some men from the institution came into the hall. The crowd cheered loudly. Khushi was walking by herself, without any aid. His eagle eyes watched her pause slightly at the foot of the steps leading to the stage and Chotu's arm promptly helping her up.

She was wearing a gold & maroon silk saree and a long sleeved blouse. The pallu was pinned on her left shoulder, and then pulled across her right shoulder to cover her entire body. Other than her face, the beginning of her neck, and her fingers, he could see nothing else. Her hair was in its usual neat bun, circled by a ring of jasmine flowers.

Chotu discretely helped Khushi sit down in the centre. She introduced the musicians accompanying her. Chotu, whose real name was Nikhil, was on the tabla and Akshaya was to play the harmonium.

Arnav who had never attended a classical concert in his life, stood awestruck as he watched Khushi interacting with the crowd. Her humility and her talent came across very well, touching every single person in the audience. She began with a short and entertaining description of the raagas she was going to sing, and then she introduced the raagas in all their various moods, their nuances, & their intricacies in a very direct & simple manner.

(x-Sundaas-x, thanx!)

He realised to his shock that she had a wicked sense of humour and a heavenly voice that could enthrall the masses. The crowd smiled, laughed, and even shed tears as she touched their hearts with her renditions of Din Ki Puriya, Des, Gara etc. She brought in film songs based on the raagas she was singing, encouraging the crowd to sing them with her. At the end of the 2-hour programme, she tried to bid goodbye to the audience, but they were in no mood to let her go. Finally, at the end of four hours, she put an end to the concert. The curtains fell and the crowd gave her a standing ovation.

"According to the organisers, the only demand that she always makes is that the stage should have a curtain that should be dropped at the end of her performance.", Aman whispered in Arnav's ear. Arnav's eyes widened.

An alert Arnav rushed to the side of the stage. He saw Chotu and Akshaya help Khushi stand up, and Chotu put his arms around Khushi, cuddling her against his shoulder.

Suddenly he realised why Anand Sadan had railings all over. Khushi needed to hold on to them if she had to get up after sitting on the floor. Arnav felt the blood leave his face. In her new house, how would she...?

(Illyria, thanx!)

There was something wrong with her health. But what? The first time he had seen her at the studio, she had been fine. She had been wearing flats, but her walk had been normal. The second time he had seen her at the temple, she had been fine. She had climbed the steps on her own. The third time at Anand Sadan, she had been fine. But the fourth time, when he had gone to take the keys from her, she had needed help to walk. Today, she was better than she had been on the day she had handed over the keys. What was wrong with her?

The next few hours were hell for Arnav Singh Raizada. He could not concentrate on his work. His head felt fit to burst. Thoughts of Khushi, regret at having hurt her feelings, pain at being far away from her, grief at the thought of her illness and pain, the need to be with her, all driving him almost out of his mind. He left the office and drove to Omkar. It was time for the truth.

Part 8: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2?pn=73

whats wrong with Khushi?!

This SS is turning out to be really interesting

pls update soon