Blue moon much? Who is this girl, right? second chapter up already!
*Looks all proud with herself*
Disclaimer: i dont't own Khushi, Arnav or any IPKKND character. Heck, i cant't even make jalebies! As for Arnav, I dont't own his sexy smirk. I just made him into a hot doctor.
Chapter 2
"I like the night. Without them you could never see the stars."
-Bella, Stephenie Meyer, Twilight
"Arnav, Khushi, come, Payal is waiting inside!" Akash's boisterious voice made them both jump, and snap out of their hypnotic trance. Khushi, her eyes wide, blushed, and dropped the phone in her hand. Arnav, too, looked around, not knowing what to say. He saw her fiddle with the buttons on her wheelchair and then really saw her.
Her hair was pinned back hastily, letting her unruly curls settle on the side of her hallow cheeks. Prominent, purple bruises surrounded her eyes making it seem as if she had not slept well for a really long time. There was a frown on her face, her brows knitted together, The previously lively eyes now held emptiness and pain so evident that he simply had to look away.
What was with her? He wondered silently, watching her try to lean down and pick up her phone, groping the ground but unable to reach her goal. His feet, almost on their own accord, stepped forward and clutched the phone, holding it out to her silently. She mouthed a quiet "thanks" before tentatively taking it from his palm. Almost on instinct, Arnav's hands went to hold the wheelchair from behind, to lead her into the house, but before he could push, something stopped him. If it was even possible, Khushi's eyes blazed with ice, warning him not to touch the chair and he withdrew his hand quickly, as if it burned him. Turning away and without sparing him another glance, he watched her retreating back as she wheeled away, into the house.
Without a word.
Without an explanation.
As much as he wanted to deny it, it stung. Her cold rejection of him stung hard, making his heart plunge a little more into that abyss of hurt.
He was being silly, he barely knew her. Maybe she didn't like to be dependent, or held back due to her handicap. Yeah, he wouldn't want that too, he reasoned. Anyway, he was here to be her doctor, to help her heal. There was no way he could have feelings for her...she was just another patient. Yes, he firmly told himself , Just another patient. Maybe this weird feeling was because she was related to Bhai...that had to be it. Then why was his stupid heart screaming special?
He was hungry, he must have mistaken the growling of his stomach as something else. Ahh yes! Payal Bhabhi's food! He could almost smell its mouthwatering taste from the garden itself. Almost greedily, he stalked into the house, the aroma of the food guiding him to the huge hall.
He gingerly picked a pakora, and was about to pop in in his mouth when his Bhabhi's laughing voice interrupted him.
"You could have atleast waited to see me" she said, feigning hurt. Behind him, he see his smug Bhai...and Khushi. She had a careful, blank expression on her face and he immediately saw that it was a mask. She was hurting, he'd seen that outside. He wanted to break through that mask, get to know the real her, but it wasn't his place to pry.
Not just yet.
"Sorry" he replied sheepishly as Payal enveloped him in a loving embrace.
"I was just pulling your leg, come on, I'll set the table for lunch."
"That's great, because I'm famished." Akash grinned.
"Daddy, I'm not famished, I am hungry!" Sia complained, as she toddled into the room.
"Princess, it means the same thing" Akash cooed, as he swung her up on his shoulders, Sia squealing delightfully.
"Hi, Sia. I'm Arnav Chachu." Arnav smiled at her, hoping to make amends from their previous, not so pleasant encounter.
To his dismay, she scowled.
"I don't like you. You scared Maasi." she stated crossly. In that moment, both Arnav and Khushi looked at each other and looked away just as quickly.
There was an awkward silence, no one knew what to say. The atmosphere was so thick with tension, that you could almost cut it with a knife.
"I..I'm tired. I think I'll rest for a while." Khushi finally said. Payal opened her mouth to protest but Akash, sensing their discomfort, squeezed her hand and shook his head.
Arnav followed her movement with his eyes and sighed as she left again. Always running away from him, he thought, seeing Payal follow to help her.
"Sia, Maasi didn't know who Chachu was, that's why she was scared" Akash explained patiently.
"Then I like you" Sia decided, "And also that big chocolate behind your back" she squealed, as Arnav swung her up in his arms, laughing.
*********
Khushi blinked away frustrated tears as she sat in bed, venting.
Khushi Kumari Gupta was angry.
Angry at everything. Herself, Jeeji, Jeeju and the miserable situation she was in.
Male Physiotherapist, Jeeju?? Really? Smart move. Real smart. Couldn't have thought of that, now.You're the best, thank you. Thanks a ton. She thought sarcastically. He thought he was on her side in this. After the accident, it was constantly him who comforted her, sheilding her from Payal's overbearing attitude and attempts to make her walk again.. She swallowed a lump in her throat. No, she couldn't think of the accident now...what was that Jeeju had said? That's right, living in the present. She was going to do that.
But this was the limit. What hadn't she tried? Yoga, massage, physiotherapy, and massage again. But she was still sitting in this damned chair, wasn't she? She wasn't on her feet yet, right? Then what was the point of trying? A small voice in the back of her mind whispered "maybe you didn't try hard enough" which she tactfully ignored.
But the voice was right. After her parents death, she had given up on everything. Her work, her family and even her shot at a good life. She couldn't go on without them. Why wouldn't they let her wallow in peace?
But no, her Akash Jeeju had to call his brother, a "famous physiotherapist" she'd begged and pleaded but Jeeju had not budged this time.. He thought he could "help" her. She rolled her eyes. Nothing would get her back on her feet...not if she didn't want it.
And yet, when she saw him-- Arnav, she tasted his name on her lips-- something stirred in her. His keen, gray eyes made it seem as though he was reading her mind. Peering into her soul. It unerved her and that's why she was rude to him on both occassions. He couldn't let him affect her. She had to keep her walls up. Of course, it didn't help her resolve that he was incredibly handsome. His strong chiseled jaw looked like it should belong to a model, his lean torso hinting at a definite six pack. His hair..oh God. They were in a lazy dissarray, as if taunting her to come run her fingers through them...
No! She couldn't. She had to keep the distance, she had to. And when she tried, the raw pain on his features didn't miss her, amd she felt her heart oddly sinking. Why was he having such an impact on her?
As Jeeji was leaving her room, she had stroked her hair and whispered "Give him a chance, please."
A chance? Life had not given her a chance when it so brutally took away her parents, her legs and all her happiness. Why should she?
People would call her cynical. Yes, maybe she was! Damn those people who though she could be cheery after all this! Would. Not. Let. Him. In.
And so, keep my distance became her mantra, before sleep finally took over and she slept for the first time without nightmares, dreaming of gray eyes.
Edited by Madafterarhi - 12 years ago
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