Vignettes -12. From ... , with love - Page 38

Anjali looked up to see her brother coming down the stairs, smiling softly as he listened to something over his phone. Taking a second to look at him, she turned to her Nani and giggled, "Must be Khushiji on the phone. This smile is reserved only for Chotte's Khushi, right, Nani?"

Arnav finished the call and paused on the mid-landing for a second, smiling gently at the phone still clutched in his hand. "Paagal...", he thought as he replayed her words in his head, "We're coming, Arnavji...just a little while longer. We're coming back to you..."

"Khushi and her filmy dialogues", he thought, even as he realised how much he loved hearing them. Stuffing the phone into his pocket, he continued on his way, only to come to a standstill at the sight of the wide grins on his Di's and Nani's faces. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing, Chotte. Achcha, tell me...where has Khushiji reached? You must be getting updates every second ?" Anjali continued grinning.

Poker face on, he replied, "Almost half-way, Di. Why?"

Shaking her head as her teasing apparently flew over his head, she said, "Nothing. Just wanted to know."

Smirking, he settled down beside his Nani, immensely pleased at finally having mastered the art of escaping from the routine teasing that his family threw at him and Khushi. He sat there for a while flipping through a magazine, absently listening to the conversation flowing around him. His Mama and Mami joined them after a while, soon followed by Akash and Payal.

"Lo, everyone's here. Let Khushiji and Dhruv join us, Raizada family would be complete", Anjali said with a fond smile. Akash looked up sharply, expecting his Bhai to get up and leave or make a snarling comment, but was surprised to see him continue reading, unperturbed. Not able to figure out what was cooking in Arnav's head, he went back to his conversation with his wife and father.

Arnav was not as unaffected as his brother thought, he was just biding his time till he could see for himself what Khushi had subjected his youngest brother to.

In response to Anjali's comment, Manorma piped up, "Arre Anjali...baat about NK Babua? You forgot him? He ij aaljo necessary, for faimily to be complete..."

Arnav looked up then, "I was about to ask about that, Di. Is his work done? Visa renewal? When's he back from Mumbai? I still don't understnad why he had to go to Mumbai when he could've done it here!"

It was Akash who replied, "Bhai, you know him. Some friend has come down from Australia ...so Visa renewal and Goa trip got clubbed. Actually he is supposed to come back tomorrow, I'll call him later to check."

The conversations ebbed and flowed around Arnav who continued reading, with one eye on the door. He was starting to miss his wife really badly. It wasn't normal that he be at home and wait for her to come back.

**************

Meanwhile, Khushi sat quiet, deep in thought, while Dhruv had dozed off, lulled into a peaceful sleep by the swaying motion of the SUV as it raced over the highway.

Dhruv's confession had shaken her. In addition to bringing her heartbreak at the thought of how much her husband had sacrificed in life, it brought her the responsibility of fixing what had been broken. She would repair what she could, it was her job to return the joys that life had snatched away from her Arnavji. And return him his brother she would!

She looked over at her still asleep companion, a sad smile stretching over her face. The travel combined with the emotional outbirst had tired him out. "Bechara ladka!" she thought, "He's still so young... when all this happened, he must have been just a child..."

Turning again to the darkening landscape rushing past her window, she lifted her phone to look at the screensaver. It was one of those rare laughs of her husband that she had clicked a while ago. Running her fingers over that dear face, she smiled, her lips tremulous, "I don't know if I'll be able to do this, Arnavji. But I'm ready to face even your anger if it means that I'll be able to bring you your brother back."

Clutching the phone to her chest, she leant back, her head churning with plans and ideas, each more far-fetched than the one before. Giving up finally, she sighed, deciding to take it as it comes. Stretching to look at the driver, she asked, "Mohanji, how much longer? They must be getting worried at home."

Craning his head back as he expertly navigated around the thickening traffic, he replied, "Just a little while longer, Bhabiji. See, we've entered Dilli."

Relieved, she quickly sent an sms to her worrywart of a husband, "We've entered Dilli...will be there soon...please don;t worry..."

**************

Arnav was just reaching for his phone to call his still absconding wife, it had been almost half an hour since he had received her message, when the security called to annouce that they had arrived. Striding to the door, he wrenched it open, unmindful of the teasing comments flying behind him. It was too late for her to be out alone, he fumed, conveniently disregarding the person who had accompanied her.

He was just stepping outside as she got down, wrapped snuggly in the shawl her had gifted her earlier. An involuntary sigh escaping him at her safe and sound arrival, he was about to walk over to her when she reached back inside and said, "Dhruv, get up... we've reached...wake up..."

Arnav stood there, gaping, the affection in her tone shocking him to the core. The part of him, that had been looking forward to the fiery tirade his wife was gearing up to throw at his brother, felt as if it were dunked in freezing water. A long-forgotten feeling of betrayal coursing through his veins, he stood there, jaw clenched, hands fisted, staring at his wife who was now helping his apparently half-unconscious brother out of the car.

Khushi looked up suddenly, feeling his gaze on her. A gasp escaping her lips as she took in his expression, she hurriedly left Dhruv and rushed to his side just as he turned around to march back inside. Grabbing his hand, she stepped in front of him, imploring him to look at her. His breath rasping, Arnav stared straight ahead, hurt too deep by what he had just witnessed.

Unmindful of who might be watching, Khushi cupped his face, forcing him to look at her, as she said, "Arnavji, you have to listen to me, please. Swear on my life, that you won't walk away. Don't you remember what had happened the last time you reacted like this?"

Stiffening, his eyes flicked down at her, his expression stricken as he remebered their contract marriage. Stunned that she had brought it up like this, he stared at her, taking in her pleading look. Taking a deep breath, he stood for a second, eyes tightly closed, and then, grabbing her hand, strode forward, past a stunned Anjali who had come out to see what the hold-up was.

Turning around to gape after her grim-faced brother and sister-in-law, who were rushing past their surprised family up to their room, Anjali murmured, "Hey Bhagwan, what happened now? They were sms-ing eachother just now..."

She looked back at Dhruv, who was standing rooted to the spot, still reeling under the exchange he had witnessed. He hadn't been able to make out what had been said, but the look of stunned pain on his brother's face followed by the anger and heartbreak he had seen there had been clear enough. He was sure that his Bhabi was going to be at the receiving end of the infamous ASR temper today, that too, becuase of him.

Anjali was quickly joined by a worried Manorama who constantly lived in dread of the silent war being waged between her son and nephew escalating into a family-feud. "Baat happened, bitwa? Why is Arnav bitwa suddenly so angry? That too with his baitter-half?"

Suddenly feeling drained, Dhruv just shook his head and stumbled past both of them, and the rest of the family, eager to escape to the solitude of his room.

**************

Arnav dropped Khushi's hand the minute they entered their room and stepped out to the poolside. Khushi stood silent, watching her husband's stiff back, her heart breaking at what she had had to say to him. Khushi knew, better than anyone, how much their wedding-misunderstanding still hurt him, how the feeling of guilt still ate at him. She also knew, better than anyone, how it continually reminded him to not take decisions in anger, especially where she was concerned, where his family was concerned.

Taking a shuddering breath as she braced herself for the pain she was going to put him through, she stepped out behind him, and called out softly, "Arnavji..."

Not looking at her, he whispered, his voice raw, "Sometimes I still feel that I don't know you at all...and sometimes it feels as if you're present in my very being, that's how well I know you... But today, for the very first time, I feel as if you don't know me at all, Khushi..."

Crashing into him from behind, she hugged him tight and sobbed, "Please don't say that...I feel every breath, every thought of yours. I know I've hurt you today, with what I did and said...Please forgive me, Arnavji..."

Feeling her tears soak through his shirt, he sighed deeply and tugged her arms that were wrapped around him closer. Standing in her embrace for a minute, he turned around, only to have her stand sobbing, head bent in apology. Gently pulling her chin up, he cupped her face, wiping her tears away. Realising that they needed to talk this out, he sat on the deck-chair, pulling her down on his lap.

Leaning back, his wife clasped tightly in his arms, he closed his eyes, trying to calm down and push the image of Khushi attending to Dhruv away from his mind. As he waited for Khushi to compose herself, he started speaking softly, "Khushi, when we finally came together after all the misunderstandings, I'd promised myself that I won't let anything come between us again. No more communication gaps, miscommunications or misunderstandings. Whatever happens, we'll talk honestly and sort it out, not keep it festering inside. We have both suffered more than enough because of blindly assuming things, right?"

Sniffling, she nodded against his chest. Relaxing as she too started quieting, he continued, holding her closer, "Do you know why? Because I know that there's no one in this world who loves me more than you do. Just as there's no one who loves you more than me. Then, we both would never do anything that would hurt the other, right?"

To say that Khushi was shocked would be an understatement. Sitting up, she looked at her husband in wonder, awestruck to see him speak so rationally, so patiently. Looking at her stunned face, Arnav smiled, a bittersweet smile, "What? Not able to believe that your Laad Governor can be so rational?"

As she nodded involuntarily, he chuckled, his love shining out of his eyes as he dropped a long kiss on her forehead, "You'll never, ever be the target of my irrational anger, Khushi. You are the one that has suffered the most because of it, and I'll never be able to forgive myself for that."

Placing her hand over his mouth, she shook her head violently, "Please don't, Arnavji. Hadn't we decided that night that we'll forget all the sad things of our past? Then why are you torturing yourself? I had told you then too, that whatever you did, you did it all out of love..And from your viewpoint, it was right too. Don't keep that weight on your heart anymore."

Looking at her intently, he asked, "I was trying to take it off, Khushi,at your bidding. then why did you remind me today?"

Stricken, she stared at him, tears pooling in her eyes as she realised how much her one sentence had hurt him. Looking down at her hand that was clutched tight in his, she replied, the words falling tremulously from the lips, "Because there's someone else who has suffered under this anger, who has been quietly suffering for years."

His breath hitching as he realised what she was reffering to, he turned his head. She must have had her talk with his brother afterall, "No, Khushi. We will not discuss that subject."

Cupping his face, she forcibly turned his face back to look at her and said, "You just said no more communication gaps, miscommunications or misunderstandings. How can that be if you won't even talk about it, Arnavji?"

Sighing in defeat, he leaned his forehead against hers, "You must have talked to him? That is more than enough. Just update me later."

"You're his elder brother, Arnavji. It's your responsibility to forgive the mistakes of the younger ones. And what you both said in anger..."

Shushing her withh his finger, he gazed at her for a second and said, weariness evident in every word, "Not now, not today. Please, Khushi, let it go."

Deciding to take it one day at a time, she nodded, sensing his reluctance to discuss a subject that was still very raw to him. Seeing the relief in his eyes as she agreed, she also promised herself that the matter would be resolved soon. Both the brothers had suffered enough. She could sense the desire in both of them for a reconciliation, though neither would admit to it, especially her Arnavji. An idea forming in her mind, she looked at him and implored, "But you have to promise me that we'll talk about Dhruv."

Stiffening at the name, Arnav stared at his wife, who was silently pleading with him, and relented, "Okay, fine. Now let's go have dinner. They must all be thinking that I would have eaten you up, and will come for investigations any time now."

Standing up, Khushi pulled him into a tight hug, apologising again for hurting him. Understanding her unspoken words, he returned the squeeze, dropping a soft kiss on the top of her head, "Forget it, Khushi...Anything's pardoned for you. Now, let's go..."

Walking downstairs behind him, her hand secure in his, she thought, "Next, it's Dhruv's turn..."

**************

Dinner passed uneventfully, Dhruv not putting in an appearance, apparently deciding to sleep through it. The concerned looks of the family turned into ones of relief as they saw them talk and eat normally. After dinner, Akash and his father called Arnav's attention to a contract they were working on and the three headed off to the study to discuss, calling back to the women that they would be back in an hour or so.

Khushi was busily supervising the cleaning and closing of the kitchen along with Anjali and Payal, when her Mami and Nani came up behind her, worry evident on their faces. "Khushi bitiya, did you have a fight?" Devyani asked, "About Dhruv?" as an anxious Manorama looked on.

Pressing their hands in reassurance, she smiled, "Nahin, Naniji. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

Turning to Manorama, she asked, "Mamiji, didn't Dhruv eat anything?"

Mamiji shook her head sadly, "No, Khusi bitiya. Was saying that he ij not hungry . Could have had fruits atleast."

Brightening, Khushi turned to Anjali, "Di, I'll take these fruits to Dhruv. Can you please hand me a plate?" Turning back to Manorama, she continued, "Don't worry, Mamiji, I'll make sure he eats."

Taking the plate from Anjali, she rushed upstairs, leaving the bemused women, totally confused by the weird happenings of the evening, behind.

**************

Pushing open the door to his room, Khushi paused, staring at the empty bed. Seeing the bathroom door standing open as well, she looked across the room, finally spotting him standing out on the balcony, staring at the night. Taking in his pose, she once again thought how like her husband he was in mannerisms, though in looks, he was almost a twin of her Jijaji, albeit a shorter, darker version.

"If his temper too had been like Jijaji's all this would have never happened", she sighed, thinking fondly of her jovial, calm brother-in-law, who was even-tempered even in his anger. "But no, he had to be just like my Arnavji! And now I'm stuck in the middle!"

Walking in, she kept the plate down on the sidetable and went to him. Hearing her steps, he jerked around, his face still raw from his emotional outburst. Feeling a little awkward at having broken down in front of her, he fidgeted, stuffing one hand into his pocket, the other running through his already messed up hair. He wanted to ask if all was well between her and his Bhaiyya, but couldn't figure out how to breach such a personal topic.

Looking at him intently, she asked, "Why do you look so troubled, Dhruv?"

Letting out a hissing breath, he shrugged, "Nothing, Bhabi. I was about to get ready for bed."

She could almost see the confusion and frustration in his mind, courtesy his expressive face, "So he's not like his Bhaiyya in this atleast", she thought, as she pictured the famous poker-face of ASR, which had now become an open book to her, though only to her. "He's just like Mamiji...whatever's in his mind is written clear on his face."

Wanting to comfort him as she could, she smiled at him softly, "Don't worry. Everything's fine, I and your Bhaiyya both."

As he looked up at her, surprised at how intuitive she was, she continued, "Now eat up and go to sleep. You have a lot to do tomorrow, you'll need your strength."

Before he could ask her what she meant by him having to do a lot of work tomorrow, she walked away. Pausing at the door, she turned to look back at the young man standing erect, staring at her and smiled, " Eat up!"

**************

Arnav walked into his room much later to find it empty. Automatically turning to the poolside, he saw his wife standing there, looking up at the sky. Smiling gently, he walked up behind her and put his hands around her waist, drawing her into him. She leaned back, her hands dropping to cover his, as he tucked her head under his chin and breathed in deep, relaxing under her warmth.

Flicking his eyes up at the starry sky, he whispered, "Complaining about me to your Amma and Babuji?"

Giggling, she shook her head, tickling his nose with her hair, "Nope. You haven't done anything complaint-worthy today. If I try talking to them, I'll end up getting scolded for upsetting you. Laad Governor has become their darling now!"

Chuckling at her declaration, he hugged her tighter and dropped a kiss on her shoulder. "Then what were you up to?"

Sobering suddenly, though he couldn't see her face, she replied, "I was talking to Mamma, was apologising to her."

This was serious, he thought. Smile vanishing, he straightened and turned her around to face him, "Why, Khushi? What are you planning to do?"

Staring at him, surprised at his question, she asked, "How do you know I'm apologising in advance? It could be for what I did today too...hurting you as I did?"

Putting his hands around her neck, he leaned down, giving a quick peck on her nose and smirked, "Because, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, I'm your husband and I know you better than you know yourself. Now tell me, what's cooking in that mad brain of yours?"

Mirroring his pose, she leaned up to circle his neck with her hands and replied, "First you have to promise me that what I'm about to tell you, you'll remember it always."

As he lifted one eyebrow, she continued, "Promise me that you'll always remember, whatever I do, no matter how much it angers you, or even hurts you, it would always be for your good, your happiness...promise me..."

Standing silent for a minute, he took in her adored face, wreathed in absolute love and concern for him, and pushing aside the misgivings that arose in his mind at her statement, whispered, "I promise, Khushi. I know that whatever you do, it will always be for my sake."

As she smiled in relief, he pulled into his arms and continued, "Just promise me something...if I ever forget this, remind me...never walk away, in anger or hurt...deal?"

Hugging him with all her might, she replied, "Hamesha..."

Pulling back, he smiled down at her, that lovely smile he reserved just for her before lifting her up in his arms and carrying her inside, as a gentle breeze flowed around them, the very air resplendent with starlight.

This part started off in an entirely different direction, but ended up becoming all about Arnav and his Khushi!

Maybe the subconscious desire in me to see them together (after a couple of updates without them) took over my thinking brain!

Anyway, I am pretty happy with how it turned out, even though it has ended up stretching this FF by one more part!

My darling readers, do let me know how it was...

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