Chapter Thirty Three - Brothers & Sisters
"The mildest, drowsiest sister has been known to turn tiger if her sibling is in trouble."
- Clara Ortega
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"
Wake up!" Arnav felt himself being violently shaken, the sound of clinking bangles assaulting his ears. "
Wake up...wake up!" The voice was almost frantic. Groaning, his eyes squinted from the harsh light of the morning sun. The blurred vision of his Di greeted him as she was looking toward the stairs worriedly.
"
Kya hai Di?"(What is it Di?) he asked irritated.
"
Kya hai nahi...nani hai!" (Not what...Nani!) she hissed.
"
Toh?" What was her problem he wondered. She was acting like a lunatic. Anjali glared at him, angrily grabbed his face and turned it toward Khushi who was still asleep in his arms. This time his eyes widened as he realised that they had fallen asleep outside and he had no shirt on. "
Shit!" he swore.
"
Quick! She's coming."
Arnav grabbed Khushi swiftly as Anjali opened the door to her room. Gently depositing her on the bed he tucked her in. Rushing to get away, he was pulled back by Khushi who still had her hand in his. "
Arnavji..." she mumbled, still asleep. His heart jumped and he longed to just crawl in beside her. "
Shhh jaan...I'm here." Placing a gentle kiss on her temple he pried his hand from hers as Anjali kept a look out.
There was a sharp rap at the door. "
Khushi betiya...open the door." Arnav and Anjali looked at each other wide eyed and frantic.
"
Ab kya karoon?" (What should I do now?) he mouthed desperately at his sister.
Anjali bit her lip and wrung her hands together.
"
Khushi betiya...are you there?' Nani called from outside.
"
Hide!" Anjali shoved him inside the bathroom and shut the door. Sinking back against the wall she put her hands up to her cheeks...
Phew! That was a close call. She looked over at Khushi who still sleeping blissfully unaware of the chaos that surrounded her; there could be a band playing on her head and she wouldn't wake up.
"
Khushi?" Nani was becoming impatient now. Anjali walked to the door and pried it open; sticking her head out.
"
Woh Nani...I came to check on Khushiji but she is still sleeping. Perhaps she is unwell and you know the jet lag."
"
Oh..." Nani nodded sympathetically with the pooja thaali in hand..."
Let me check on her."Anjali opened her mouth to protest but she had already pushed past her. Devyani looked around to see remnants of the beside vase scattered on the floor. "
What happened here?" she turned toward Anjali.
"
Ummm...woh..." Anjali wasn't a very good liar and she began to get flustered as she looked continuously toward the bathroom door. "
I knocked it over by accident when I came to see Khushiji" she whispered so as not to disturb the sleeping maiden. Nani frowned and looked at her very jumpy granddaughter sceptically. Turning to Khushi, she lovingly caressed her cheek, placing a small tika on her forehead.
Devyani walked out of the room, pausing at the door..."
Aren't you coming?" she asked Anjali. Anjali shook her head..."
I should clean up the vase."
"
I'll send for HP...you come downstairs with me."
"
No no nani. Really! It's fine. I made the mess so I should clean it up right?" Anjali's smile was unnecessarily bright.
"
Are you feeling alright?" Nani queried as she checked for a temperature.
"
Fine! Great! Brilliant! You should go...I'll be down soon." Anjali basically shoved her out of the room as she bolted the door behind her. Her body sagged and she let out the breath she had been holding as her forehead rested against the frame. She could not believe that Khushi was
still asleep. The bathroom door creaked open and Arnav began to tiptoe out. A well aimed pillow hit him squarely in the head.
"
What the!" he looked between the pillow and his sister several times as if unable to comprehend what Anjali had just done.
"
Don't you 'what the' me! I almost had a heart attack!" she growled.
"
Can we talk about this outside?" he looked toward the bed.
Anjali stalked off to the poolside where she found OP watering the plants. "
Om Prakash ji...can you please bring two cups of tea?"
"
Ji Didi" OP nodded and smiled; leaving to fetch refreshments. Arnav meanwhile had gently shut the door and turned around to face his sister. Anjali's nose crinkled up in disgust..."
You stink Chote! Go have a shower, by that time the tea will be ready."
Rubbing his hand at the back of his head he grinned at her impudently and suddenly Anjali remembered her Chote of yesteryear. He looked so very young in that instance. Placing a peck on her cheek, he muttered..."
Thanks Di" and enveloped her in a bear hug. Anjali shoved him off of her..."
Ewww gross. Go have a shower."
She watched as he went inside his room and shook her head, smiling at his antics. He had become so much more carefree ever since Khushi had come into his life and Anjali was indebted to her. The least she could do was cover up for them when they wanted to be with one another.
Anjali decided to pay her brother's room a visit; something she hadn't done in a while. As usual it was pristine save for the skipping rope that lay discarded on his recliner along with his exercise vest. The bedsheets had a few crinkles along the foot of the bed but other than that it had not been touched. It seemed her brother had spent the entire night outside. Picking up his vest she discarded it in the dirty linen basket while she put the rope back in his cupboard.
The sound of water streaming from the shower head filled the room with a dull buzz. Her eyes fell on a photograph that was hidden among his clothes. She pulled it out and saw a picture that had been taken years ago. It was of her, Arnav and their mom. They were sitting on the terrace, in the swinging seat that papa had bought for them. They had been happier times.
The photo had creases in several places and the colour had faded but the smiles on the three face still remained just as bright. She carefully returned the photo to its original location and shut the door. Sitting on the bed she let her mind wander back to the times where she would sit in mother's lap and listen to the stories of the kings and queens of old. Her mother would stroke her hair, while she lay watching the stars. Chote would sit in the corner, pretending to read a book or tend to his plants but listening just as intently.
Life had not been kind to either of them.
OP entered with the chai disturbing her from reminiscing. She smiled and signalled him to put it on the coffee table. As he left, the door to the bathroom opened and Anjali noticed the punching bag that had been hung from the ceiling. She then remembered the shattered vase by Khushiji's bedside and realised that her brother had some explaining to do.
Arnav came and sat beside Anjali on the bed. Without warning he placed his head in Anjali's lap and she found herself tearing up. It had been years since her brother had allowed himself to be vulnerable infront of her. Swallowing hard, she cleared her throat and began to stroke his damp hair...
"
What happened Chote?'
Arnav let out a big breath...
"
Nothing Di. I couldn't sleep last night so I was sitting by the pool. I heard Khushi screaming and then something crash. She must have knocked over the vase."
"Screaming?"
"She was having a nightmare. I brought her outside and I guess we both just fell asleep."
"Hmmm..." Anjali pursed her lips.
"Is she alright?"
"Yeah...I guess she is now. But you should have seen her Di. She was terrified and shaking. I've never seen her like that..." Arnav hesitated and the continued..."
I was so scared."The last confession came out in a whisper.
Anjali felt her heart squeeze tightly. Arnav was as much her son as Rehaan and no mother could bear to see their child in pain.
"
What's really wrong Chote? You've been happier and I am aware of that. But there is something you're hiding from me. I've let it go because I thought either you would come to me yourself or you would resolve the issue. But since neither had happened I'm asking you now..."
Arnav looked up at his sister and suddenly felt very tired. He couldn't do it alone. It was too much for one person to bare and so he made a spontaneous decision. He wasn't sure if he would regret it but he would deal with that later. Right now he needed his sister...
Pushing himself up from her lap he walked over to the safe in his cupboard and retrieved the letter given to him on his birthday. Putting it in Anjali's hands he silently indicated that she should read it.
With trembling hands she took the parchment from the envelope, it rustled noisily. As she read the letter her eyes glistened with tears and she held her brother's hand tightly. Though by the time she had finished her face displayed a very different emotion all together.
The world always wondered what happened to the lost princess. Her life is still in danger Arnav and I made a promise a long time ago. She must never find out who she was Arnav. I need you to fulfill this promise for me. Protect her. Marry her Arnav and bring my bahu home. Maybe this way there will be someone who can take care of you for once. Think of it as my last wish chote."
Tell me you didn't..."her voice shook.
"Didn't what di?"
"
Tell me you aren't marrying her just because of this letter." she looked in her brother's eyes hoping that he wouldn't confirm her fears. Anjali felt like her world had been turned upside down. How could the innocent girl sleeping in the next room be a princess?
"Initially yes. But now its not the reason."
"What is the reason Chote..." Anjali needed to know that he loved her. If not for himself than at least for Khushi.
"
I...I...she's my life Di..." he said softly.
The answer pleased her greatly. As far as she was concerned the biggest hurdle had been overcome. the rest was just semantic. Anjali stood up and began to pace the room. "
I'm going to ask the questions and you are going to answer. Capiche?" she said authoritatively.
Arnav rubbed his tired eyes and nodded.
"
Does Khushi know?"Anjali began to fire out questions one after another.
"No."
"At all?"
"She has these nightmares..." Arnav explained the nightmare to her and Anjali shuddered.
"
Poor Khushiji. Who else knows?"
"Aman and Aadithya."
"Aadthiya?"
"He's a Rajput prince."
"So...?"Anjali did not see how him being a prince equated to his knowledge of Khushi's identity
.
"Well apparently he knows why I am marrying her as well.' Arnav admitted reluctantly.
"How the f**k does he know that!" Anjali snapped. Arnav was taken aback. Never in all his years had he heard his sister swear. She was supposed to be gentle and docile. It seemed as if everyone had something to hide.
"
Ummm...I'm trying to find out."he said sheepishly.
"
You mean you don't know?" she accused. Arnav raised his eyebrows to warn his sister that his patience was running thin.
"
Aman put together a dossier on him and his family. There is information about Khushi's family in there as well." He pointed to the USB that sat next to the tray of chai on the coffee table.
"
Is she in danger from him or is it something else?"
"
Again... I'm hoping the dossier will give me some clues..."he repeated, frustrated with the situation.
" But...he doesn't seem dangerous. In fact I think he genuinely has feelings for her. He said that they were destined to be together since childhood" Anjali scoffed as if the possibility of Khushi being with Aadithya was inherently stupid.
"Hmmm..." The cogs in Anjali Jha's brain were whirring at full speed and she frowned deep in thought.
Silence befell the room and Arnav waited for his sister's reaction.
"
So you haven't gone through the information in the USB?"she asked.
"
Obviously not Di!" Was she being thick on purpose?
"
Good! Don't open it." she was grinning as if she had just hit the jackpot.
"
Excuse me? Why would I do that?" Arnav was already regretting telling his sister; she was obviously delusional.
"
Because I said so..." she snapped
He rolled his eyes..."
I think you should get your eyesight checked because I'm not Rehaan. That explanation only works on him."
"
Watch your tone Chote!" she wiggled her nose . "
That USB is going to be seen by someone I trust my life with. He'll know what to do with the information."
"No!"
"Sorry?"
"I said no. Too many people already know. I can't risk anyone else!"
"Even if that person works for RAW?"
This time Arnav was left speechless.
"What?"
"You heard me..." she crossed her hands over her chest and smiled smugly.
"
Even so...Why would I not read what's on the USB?"
"Because dear brother...you act on impulse. You get angry and don't think of the consequences. I need you to think rationally before you act. So we will go through the information together. Agreed?"
He nodded not sure of what else to say. His head was pounding with a raging headache probably resulting from the lack of sleep and overload of information.
"
It'll be ok Chote. You'll see." she rubbed his cheek and took the USB with her as she left the room.
"
Hang on a minute..." Arnav called to her as she was in the doorway. He had forgotten to ask her a pertinent question.
"
Who the hell do you know that works for RAW?"
Anjali smirked..."
Your jeejaji of course."
With that she turned on her heel and swept out of the room leaving an open mouthed Arnav. It seemed that everyone had secrets. Everyone.
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This update is for sonia_92 who is incredibly sick! I hope you feel better. Sorry there weren't any Rabba vey's in this update. But there will be in the next.
This is also for AllSmiles86 who correctly identified that I was yet to explore Shyam's character. So here he is!
Do let me know what you thought. I know you are all dying to know what is on the USB but I won't compromise the story. Many things are yet to be discovered and revealed by characters. Also the childhood sequences are NOT from Arnav's memory. He still had the memories but he hasn't accessed them. It's been 15 years since these events and he has tried to forget his past. So it will take somethings to jog his memory. He is yet to link the fact that the Khushi from his childhood is the Khushi he is with now. Infact he is even yet to remember the Khushi from his childhood.
As for why he doesn't tell her. Well its because he doesn't know all the facts. He may be doing more harm than good.
The story is unfolding slowly so bare with me. I'm sorry if I am dissapointing you but I can only be true to my vision.
Love Sasak
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