Part 9
Arnav was missing his Khushi would be an understatement. He was going crazy. The minute he received Khushi's text that they had returned back from their day out, arnav had ordered them to come on skype.
After listening to Arav and his day for a while, he waited as khushi tucked him in bed and put on her headphones to speak to him-
Arnav- Khushiii…I..I…
Khushi- I know Arnavji..Its just a day and I don't know how will I manage a whole month without you too…I cant..
Arnav, desparetlly wanting to comfort her- its ok sweetheart, from tomorrow your work will start, aravs training will start too..you wll get busy and so will I and then you see the time will fly love…now cheer up and tell me about your day…
Khushi smled- Thnks arnavji, you always know how to make me feel better and she filled him in about her day,her meeting with Stella and Arhaan.
Arnav was a little alarmed at a guys name- Arhaan? So hel be with you guys through out is it?
Khushi- Oh is someone jealous arnavji…hehe she giggled.Relax arnavji..he seems to be a really nice guy and moreover they all know I am Married.However I do feel I can be good friends with him you know, he helped me the other day athe airport as well but ofcourse if you have a problem or uncomfortable at the thought- I wil not even become friends with him arnavji..you are above everything for me…
His heart swelled with love as he heard those words which did make him feel so much better- Well its not that Khushi.I am just jealous because I miss you.Infact I really have no problem if you guys become friends- theres no harm infact you could do with a friend in an unknown place, you know its better and Peter is always there too to..
Khushi- yes yes arnavji…u see just like how I was also friends with nanheji before we got married, but oh wait…I remember u telling me u were sooo jealousss…
Arnav- what the?? Yeah coz at that time I ddnt know you love me…
Khushi blushed- and now u know…
Arnav- yes I do..and please don't look so lovely while u blush coz there is no way I can come and kiss u through the camera..how I wish I could…
She laughed and they talked more for a while as he filled her in on his day and then she even spoke to akash and payal and arnav reassured her that time would fly soon and wished her best of luck for her tour which was to start the next day.
As Khushi slept, she thanked Devi maiya and prayed to her to give her all the strength to help her succeed in her task.
In the next three weeks that followed, Time did fly indeed just like Arnav had said.Khushi had been so busy with all the work , they had fulfilled wishes of about 50 kids already- which Stella exclaimed was the record in such less time and what was so special was that Khushi had personally met all of these kids and participated upright in giving them what they wanted.The kids loved her and they found it very difficult to let go of her once she had to leave.On the other hand Arav was superbusy wth his soccer and all the free time he would get, peter would take him to his mothet and he would help her a in whatever way he could or else he would hang out with Stella , Peter or Arhaan.
Khushi and Arhaan had also become really good friends in the process.Well not only because they were working together towards a good cause, but also because it was so easy for anyone to be friends with Khushi.Arhaan was a really nice person, khushi had observed- he was really nice and helpful and not to forget- a very jovial person too. It was easy to be friends with him too, infact even Arnavji was thankful for arhaan had really helped her out in a lot of ways with work.
Arhaan Raichand had deceided on the very first day itself that Khushi was definetly a Forbidden Territory. However in the following weeks as he worked with her and got to know her, he couldn't stop his treacherous heart from falling for her.She was a woman with such compassion and love , her wish to offer and help everyone and give as much as she could to it, to make the others happy- had won his heart. He had seen her go out of the way to convince Stella to fulfill some of the Kids wishes even thought they had been really impractical.He had seen her love her son unconditionally and manage her hectic schedule side by side. he had seen her always taking out the time to talk to her husband and family,whom she clearly loved a lot, he had seen her always doing the things putting herself last-wherein Arav would have to butt in and boss on her and remind her that His Dad had made him promise to make her take care-and if she wouldn't, he would for him.He had seen her smile through the stress and sadness of witnessing young kids at hospitals suffer- it was depressing- very depressing indeed but she would not let it hamper her task. One day when he had been with Peter and Arav and Arav was telling him as to proud he was of his mother, and it was so easy for him to accept her as that.Arhann had asked him what had he meant by that- when Arav explained him that Khushi and her husband had adopted him, since he was an orphan.Arav had told him- she ddnt care uncle at all that who I was?where was I from? No..all she cared was that she loved me and had accepted me as hers and she and dad had then adopted him officialy, as their son.This information had only increased the respect he had for Khushi by tenfold.Besides, all that he had also found a very good friend in her.All of the above to find in one person was definetly rare, he knew- how could he not have fallen in Love? He knew this was going to be one sided always and he would never even want her to know of this- as it would risk her friendship too, which had become way too important for him to let go- if he couldn't have her with him as his- he wanted to be friends with her so that she would atleast be a part of his life.He knew for sure that her husband was a very lucky man to have her and he couldn't avoid the heartache he felt at nights when he slept sometimes thinking- what had he gotten himself into?Falling in love so deeply with someone-who could never be his.
It had been three weeks and since Khushi and Arnav had been so busy- they would not get a lot of time to talk to each other, yes they would talk once or twice during the day as and when possible, but that was really not enough.her schedule was hectic and the rest of the time she was always busy showing Arav around and spending time with him and the time difference between their countries wasn't much of help anyway.It had been two days she hadn't spoken to arnav properly and today as she was trying to reach him- his phone was not reachable and nor was anybody at home there, nor her jijaji and jiji were picking up the phones.She was worried,hell worried.After putting arav to bed, she finally called up Arhaan knowing that calling anywhere else would cause trouble as everyone back at home in India would just panic.
Arhaan saw her call.Well that's odd its 11 pm, she wudnt call..I hope all is ok as he picked up-
Arhann- Hi khush, hope all is ok?Is arav alright?
Khushi- yes arhaan, im sorry to bother you at such an hour..hes alright..its just that I am really worried..
Arhaan- what happened?
Khushi- Iv been trying to call my husband and am unable to reach him, haven't spoken to him properly since two days and now nobody at home is also picking up nor jiji or jijai..i am so worried I don't know what to do..I am just so worried…
Arhaan didn't like the sound of her worrying- khush, relax all will be fine ok..dont worry..maybe they are just busy..remember you told me about it just two days back how he was so busy with his hectic schedule.Shh calm down all will be ok!Wait till the morning..if you still cant get in touch with him, we will see what to do..ok?
Khushi calmed down a little- Yea you are right, thanks I am just being paranoid I guess..hed be fine..tomorrow is Sunday it's a off for us..and even for him.maybe hell be free then..ok thanks arhaan,you are a good friend.Good night!
Arhaan sighed- Goodnight Khush.
Arhaan was very worried after speaking to her.She was really disturbed, and he had never seen her so, he felt anger fill in him for her husband on being so careless – that she was so upset. Well tomorrow is Sunday, hopefully all wil be fine for her.Il go check on her in the morning , afterall anyway me and Peter are taking Arav out.
Sleep wouldn't come to him and so he walked into his brothers study where there was a small bar and made a drink for himself, only to find his brother there doing the same.
Nikhil- whats up brother?all ok..
Arhaan- yes bro..all is ok with me..just not with Khushi..as he poured himself a drink..
Nikhil Raichand was very well aware of the change that had come in his Brother since he had starting working with Make a Wish, and he also knew he had become really good friends with Mrs India-Khushi and even her son Arav, however he was still oblivious and unaware to the misery his brother was going through falling in love with Khushi, and he questioned- why what happened to her now?
Arhaan- apparently she isn't able to reach her husband the whole day and that's worrying the hell out of her bhai.
Nikhil- oh so that's ok right, maybe hes busy and why the hell are u getting so worked up about it..
Arhaan- I cannot see her so upset, brother.
Nikhil, as he starting realizing what his brother meant ,questioned- and why cant you?he seriously asked him
Arhaan turned to him and Nikhil was surprised how miserable his brother looked as he answered- you remember bhai the day I returned from US, you teased me and I told you how I met only one interesting face and how she was different..
Nikhil- yeah dude, I do but what about her now?? Did you meet her again..
Arhaan giving a sad smile- Its her bhai.Khushi.It was her. I met her , I knew she was married- but I cudnt stop myself from falling for her.I do love her, I know she is out of bounds and trust me bhai I would never do something which is not right and you know that- But the heartache its killing me..and moreover I cannot see her upset,I don't know what to do.For the first time ever- I know I have landed up myself in a situation which is way too screwed up.
Nikhil put a hand on his lil brothers head to give him the support he knew he needed- Its ok arhaan, itl be ok alright…but tell me does she have any clue about how you feel..?
Arhaan- No way bhai, and I will not risk it for anthing ever.We are like best friends and im not risking that for anything ever, atleast that way shel atleast be there.
Nikhil- hmm yeah you are right, im sorry for this though..i know I understand how it feels when one day you finally fall in love- and you know the one you love will never love you back-will never be yours. I know how it feels- It sucks, big time.
They hugged, each trying to comfort the other- knowing fully that thry were both victims to the disastorous one sided love.Nikhil hadn't still let go of his past, the betrayal and accepted that Aditi had never loved him the way he had.And Arhaan had accepted very well that Khushi would never be his-but was helpless to the heartache he felt.
Ironical, as to how only Love had the power to do the two extreme things to Mankind- One-make Life seem so beautiful and magical in one moment and Two-The feeling of misery and pain and emptinessand heartache, if one was unlucky enough to fall for someone who would never return their love.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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