Guys, This time I am dead serious. SEE -.- I want some more response. Please?
CHAPTER 20
-Next Morning-
Khushi flitted around the place in casuals; black tights and a pink kurta, trying to understand WHY she found the placee and the new people here familiar... She kept gazing around, unmindful of the steps that had come her way. Suddenly, she found herself tripping and her eyes flew shut. She waited for the fall, but nothing happened. She opened one eye and saw herself suspended on the top of the first stair. She looked downstairs and saw everyone freezing where they were and looked ahead to see that Arnav had caught hold of her right hand.
There it was again...The familiar warmth! Suddenly, she got a whirl of images in her mind...
Hanging from the top stair by a poolside at night...Jewellery boxes and broken jewellery at her feet...
(I could include the Teej thing, but she was UNCONSCIOUS. SO how could she remember? :/ )
A red interiored building...glass walls...Hanging down from the first floor and then falling...!
Her eyes widened at the memory of that. She looked back and forth; first at their intertwined hands and then his face...she waited for the blackout which happened everytime her past flashed infront of her.
She felt unsettled and just like that her eyes drooped shut as she felt herself being pulled and crash into a hard and solid, yet warm chest.
The last thing she heard was a chorus of "Khushi's" and "Khushi bitiya's"
Arnav picked up his unconscious wife and carried her to the guestroom reluctantly, wanting to take her to their room instead. He lay her on the bed and gently caressed her face and kissed her forehead.
The first one of the family members to enter the room was Anand, followed by the kids, Anjali, Nani, Akash and Payal, and Mama.
Anand knelt next to Khushi and ran his hands through her hair. "She must have had another flashback" he said softly, for Arnav to hear.
He looked up and clearing his throat, turned to Arnav. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Arnav nodded apprehensively, and the duo walked out.
Once they were out, Anand asked "Whatever happened, triggered a memory in her. Any idea what it might be?"
Arnav told him about the Teej, to which Anand laughed "She must have gotten real mad at you for breaking the fast!"
Arnav nodded and told him about the night after Heer-Ranjha play when he had caught her from falling off the stairs.
He wondered whether he should tell Anand about letting her go from the first floor but Anand said "I know there is more. I am not a lawyer for nothing!"
Hesitantly, he told Anand about Khushi's fall from first floor. Anand looked mad as bull. "Why you-! How dare you! I-"
"Anand, look I am sorry okay? Can we please focus now!?" Arnav said, flinching at the rage he saw in Anand's eyes. He could understand Anand's feelings... He himself was protective of an ELDER sister, then Anand would be more protective of a YOUNGER sister given the fact that he held his departure responsible for the misshaps in Khushi's life.
Anand inhaled deeply. "Yeah. You're right. And by the way, what of Anjali's divorce lawyer? Remember we needed to talk to him and get that creep Jha punished!"
"Well, yeah. We are scheduled to meet him today evening." Arnav said.
Everyone now knew that the kids knew Arnav was their father. As Khushi was sleeping, Arnav and the kids were having their father-kids moments. Little Khushi was sitting with Anand, listening attentively to the story he was narrating.
Arnav was teaching his children how to play chess.
"This is the rook or elephant and-"
Arshi cut him off. "But Papa, that looks more like a tree with its branches chopped off! Why is it called an elephant?" she looked at him wide-eyed.
Anjali who was passing by, heard the question and laughed. "Arshi beta, your father's name Arnav, means Ocean. Does he look like ocean to you?"
Arshi looked at Arnav seriously, while Navi thought over the words Bua had said carefully.
Finally, Arshi shook her head. "No. Papa does not look like the sea"
Navi nodded to while Anjali said "See? Now do you get what I mean?"
Navi said "Yeah. Name and the named THING need not be the same THING" He frowned, confused with his own words.
Arnav laughed, looking at the Khushi-ish pout on Navi's lips. "So, do I continue the game?"
And thats how the afternoon was spent.
That evening-
Arnav went to check on Khushi before leaving to meet the lawyer. There were two hours left for the meeting. He peeped in and saw that Khushi wasn't there. "Khushi?" he called loudly.
"I am in the shower Mr Raiz- I mean Arnavji!"
"Oh. Okay."
He was about to leave when he heard her phone ringing. "Arnavji, if you're still there could you please pick it up?" she called.
Arnav called back a yes and went towards the phone kept on the bed. Without looking at the screen, he picked it up. Before he could say anything, a familiar voice spoke out. "Hey Chamkili! How are you! I am coming to India! NK has gone to his family to get approval for me! I will be going to Delhi first and- Hello? Chamkili? Why aren't you saying anything?"
Arnav stood frozen. Of COURSE! He should've known! Khushi, other girl, best friend, London, NK and "Lavanya?!" he said, shocked.
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