God, I'm so emotional right now, I was watching Rang De Basanti and it made me cry I really love Aamir and that Siddharth guy
That again, is an object of my randomness, sorry😳
Oh, and I know I'm really late I don't really have an excuse. I was pondering whether I still feel like writing, and now that I do, I won't stop. Hopefully. This chapter has been sitting half baked for like 2 months, but then I kept going back and edited and added as I pleased. So yeah.
"Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly."
- Langston Hughes
Chapter 4
Arnav Singh Raizada was a an extremely successful physiotherapist. There was no question of that. He had maneuvered his way there, creeping, stumbling, but going higher always. Straight out of Oxford, he had obtained the job of a physiotherapist in a hospital in London. No one knew it, but he decided to enter this stream afer his beloved Di was left crippled in an accident. He could not help her but he would make sure others would not suffer such a fate. After all, she had given up her education midway due to financial crunches to let him pursue his dreams...and all he wanted was to do was make her proud.
And no, someone would have to cut open his heart to find out another factor that helped this progression. Apparently, looks he had just taken as an inheritance from his parents and never thought much about, were now labelled "Adonis features" and were his catalyst to his speedy climb up the career ladder. His patients, especially women, decided that having an expert with such handsome face wouldn't hurt them. They almost seemed too eager to trust his judgment...he had them trusting him in no time.
That's why Khushi's attitude had him mystified. She was an enigma-- the different sides of her that made her Khushi and he felt himself being drawn to each of them. He knew trust didn't come easily to her, he knew he'd have to earn it.
Arnav's smooth forehead was marred by a deep frown as he read a certain blue file.
Central Cord Syndrome. Caused by spinal injury.
Two sentences described Khushi's dismal condition right now? He didn't think so. Surely it wasn't just the use of her legs she'd lost? He'd never known true hurt until he saw her eyes. They were like a window to her soul and he almost winced at the pain in them. Her facade of a tough exterior could not hide the pain her eyes when he had mentioned Sia playing with her. He knew he couldn't afford to be gentle, he'd have to push- both for her physical and emotional well being. He'd have to crack her in her own demeanor- get under her skin.
He remembered Payal Bhabhi's joyous face when he told her Khushi had agreed to cooperate with him and try to get better. He had seen then how much his Bhai and Bhabhi loved her and he would do everything in his power to bring them that happiness again, he thought, a resolve forming in his eyes as he snapped the file shut.
~
Ten fingers were having a gruellng physiotherapy session. They were being cracked, pulled, twisted and most of all, being heavily nibbled on. Rather erotic? No. It was all because one woman was nervous. Way too nervous.
Khushi had been spending the last twenty minutes in bed cursing herself. And the stupid agreement. Did Sia really have to have such round eyes? They could practically make Khushi do anything for her! And her obnoxious, calculative physiotherapist had, unfortunately, used that to his advantage. Damn. Why did she have to realize of this after it was done? Akash Jeeju was the only reason why she sat here awaiting the dreaded session instead of running off to another country. Figuratively, she thought, sadly.
"Jeeju, is this ever going to end?" Khushi asked Akash, who seemed to have an unfathomable emotion on his face. They both were sitting in her room earlier that morning. Khushi didn't understand why, but she always knew that the person she considered her elder brother, would always tell her what she needed to hear, if not what she wanted to hear. He always had her best interest in mind, whether or not she realized it at that time.
"If you mean by your inability to trust people, then I'd say don't beat yourself up over this, Khushi. I'm not going to be unrealistic and say that you should be laughing and throw yourself into getting better-- I know it's hard. But smile a bit, give Arnav a try, give happiness a chance, Khush. You don't see the light in your sister's eyes when your lips lift up even a bit. She lives for that Khush."
"I know...Payal Jeeji...I can't stop hurting her and you...but it's so hard to..forget...Amma, Bauji.." Khushi's voice broke on the last bit.
"You don't open the whole door Khush, but at least crack the window?" Akash pleaded as he held his Saali comfortingly.
"Will you be there?" she asked tentatively looking up to face him.
He squeezed her shoulder. "Right there. Every step of the way. Always"
Always. And Khushi had been reassured.
But now, all that talk seemed to fly out of the window as Khushi waited dreadfully, all her courage slipping away. All she saw was the humiliation and sympathy in others' eyes after every failed attempt...
She couldn't do it.
She would fake being ill...yes! Then he would have no choice but to leave her alone, even if it was only for a few days. The rational part of her knew it was supremely childish and that she would have to face reality sometime, but right now, the fearful side of her which feared heartbreak, won. She slid under the covers and--
The door clicked.
Uh- oh. Too late.
His infuriating head popped in at the door. His infuriating head with the most amazing hair. She would have to stop thinking about him like that if she was supposed to hate him! She thought as she mentally slapped herself as she dove inside her blanket again, heart thudding eratically.
"I know you're awake. There's no point in pretending, Khushi." came his smug but slightly exasperated voice.
Damn. "Go away. I'm asleep" she muttered, angrily. She heard his quiet chuckle before some unseen force started pulling her blanket off her body.
"Morning, sunshine!" Khushi narrowed her eyes at the exceptionally bright smile on Arnav's face which created deep dimples and lit up his eyes. He had on a casual T shirt that hugged his chest and abdomen snugly and loose jeans that clung to his lean hips. He looked closer to a model than a doctor as he leaned casually against the wall and she decided he was beautiful. The epitome of beauty.
But annoying as hell.
"I thought you were a better actress Khushi..." he mocked her, still laughing. "You look really annoyed".
"Really? I wonder why?" she deadpanned., glaring at him.
"How are you, today?" he asked, genuine concern lacing his voice.
"Just peachy, Doc." she quipped.
Arnav ignored her. "Do you want to have it here or somewhere else? The garden perhaps?" It would be refreshing change from sitting here the whole day."
The liquid, mesmerising hazel in her eyes hardened and her jaw clenched. " No matter where we are, Arnav, I'll always be sitting..." she said quietly.
Arnav saw her get that far off look in her eyes again, her face an emotionless mask. No, he couldn't let her close off on him again.
"Not for long, Khushi, not for long. After I'm done with you, you'll be up and running in no time." he joked half heartedly, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
She gave a sad smile and shook her head in resignation. It was almost as if she were whole new person, thought Arnav. One minute, she was sarcastic and the next, so forlorn.
All he wanted to see was the light-hearted carefree girl he'd seen with Sia, who true to her name, was indeed happy. As he proceeded to move closer, deep inside, Arnav knew that it was a move to do exactly that- break the mask and let the real, happy Khushi emerge.
It was a move in the right direction.
PMs later. So sorry guys. Please like and comment(:
Channel V Dil Dosti Dance
Arjun
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