Anjali walked into Arnav's room and caressed kushi, kushi purred like an innocent kitten.
She woke up and looked up at Anjali in shock "Anjali ji, I'm sorry"
"kushi ji, why are you sorry, I'm the one who needs to apologize for waking you up"
"It's okay Anjali ji, I was anyways waking up….."
"call me Di, kushi ji, makes me feel like your own" replied Anjali
Kushi tried standing up, but her feet felt weak and she was about to fall when Pruthvi held her "kushi ji, aaptheekho?"
"ji pruthvi ji, I'm fine"
"kushi ji, come sit here" Anjali made kushi sit on Arnav's bed "you're not going anywhere, and hey Bhaghwan, you have got fever"
Anjali was extremely worried now "Pruthvi bhai, please call the doctor"
"okay Di" saying this Pruthvi headed downstairs
"Di, I'm okay" said Kushi
"You're not going anywhere" ordered Anjali
Anjali made Kushi lie down on Arnav's bed and covered her with the sheet
*****************
Arnav felt a sudden chill, he felt as if he was near Kushi… he wanted to call home and check on Kushi, but still he was too stubborn to give in
*****************
Kushi relaxed in arnav's bed whilst the doctor checked on her. "Beti you're too stressed out, your bp is low you need to relax and have proper food if you're to stay fit" said the doctor
"Doctor uncle tu chinta math karo, kushi ji is my responsibility and i will take very good care of her" replied anjali
"Theek hain bitiya, how is arnav i tried calling him to check on him as well but he did not answer my calls" spoke the doctor
Both anjali and pruthvi looked at each other in shock whilst Kushi looked on."Ji doctor ji, chote is fine now, bhai can you help the doctor down, namaste" replied anjali
Kushi took a deep breath and finally gave in "Di how is arnav ji now"
"Chote is fine Kushi ji, he is being treated for his wounds, you rest now" saying this anjali left arnav's room.
*******************
Kushi lay on arnav's bed thinking about arnav, just then a phone rings
"It's Di's phone" said Kushi as she got up from the bed and answered "hello"
There was silence from the callers end, "hello, who is calling? Di has left her phone, may i take a message?" But then suddenly Kushi felt a cool breeze touch her face as a tear fell down her eye
"Arrrnav" Kushi's heartbeat raced, she felt it was arnav on the other side, Kushi took off the mobile from her ear to check on the caller only to realise the display showing "chote"
"How are you feeling now arnav? What is the doctor saying? Are you alright? Is it too painful?" Asked Kushi
"Kushi, what are you talking about? Aap theek ho?" Asked arnav
Just then anjali walks into the room feeling extremely worried "hey bhaghwan could it be chote"
"Kushi ji, the doctor asked you to take rest na, then why are you standing here and answering my calls, you could have called out to me na" saying this anjali grabbed the phone off Kushi's hands and cut the call
"Ji Di, it was arnav ji" but before Kushi could complete anjali continued "you better rest warna i will scold you" Anjali made Kushi walk upto the bed and put her to sleep...
****************
"Bhai that was a very close call, i wonder what they spoke, think of something"
"I'm thinking Di, I'm thinking" said pruthvi as he paced up and down anjali's room.
*****************
The next day morning, Anjali started off with the pooja at the raizada residence mandir and as she turned around she was surprised to see Kushi had joined in too. Kushi was dressed in a white salwar with the dupatta on her head, making her look divine. Anjali stared at Kushi for a while, Kushi opened her eyes and seeked blessings from Anjali and Anjali hugged Kushi.
The door bell at the raizada mansion rang "Hari prakash, can you please check who it is" ordered anjali "come Kushi ji let's have breakfast"
Everyone settled for breakfast "hari prakash who was it?" Asked Anjali
"Ji it was arnav babu". Anjali and pruthvi looked at each other shocked. Kushi got up from her chair. Anjali held onto Kushi's shoulder. Kushi looked at anjali feeling confused.
Kushi's eyes suddenly turned towards the stairway as she saw arnav descending, she was feeling confused since arnav looked completely healthy and fit, no bandages, or any sight of damage. She turned around to look at both anjali and pruthvi who had guilt shown in their faces. Kushi was feeling extremely disappointed. Kushi turned around to walk back into her room when anjali stopped her "Kushi ji, please listen to me"
Kushi moved Anjali's hand away from her and headed towards her room.
Arnav was feeling annoyed over Kushi's behaviour "let her go Di, she knows to just go away when i come"
Anjali was feeling extremely upset. Arnav got up from the chair and went to his room.
"Chote, can i come in"
"Di, you need not ask me permission to come into my room"
"I'm sorry chote, i have done wrong"
"Matlab? Di I'm not getting you"
Anjali confesses everything to arnav, about lying to Kushi of arnav's accident.
"Chote, i know i did wrong, but Kushi ji, the way she felt for you when she heard about your accident, the way she reacted, the way she broke down, chote there was something in her eyes that spoke more than just a concern"
"Di, please, her actions are more evident, did u just see how she got up and walked away, what more do you need to know Di, just leave it"
"Nahin chote, i will not keep quiet, if she didn't love you, she wouldn't have slept in your room that night"
Arnav was surprised over his sisters confession "what do you mean Di?
"Yes chote, Kushi ji seeked solace in your room, I'm sure this is more evident that she loved you"
A smile grew on arnav's lips, he hugged his sister and dashed out of his room towards Kushi's room. He opened the door quietly and found Kushi seated on the floor with her head on her knees.He bent down and held Kushi by her shoulders "Kushi"
Kushi lifted her head , arnav was broken to see Kushi in tears.
"Have i ever told you Kushi that your tears kill me a million times, please don't cry"
Kushi got up and was about to walk away
"Kushi, listen to me for once, and after this if you still want to walk away, I'm fine with your decision"
"What is it arnav" asked Kushi
Arnav walked upto Kushi and took her face in his arms,,,,,,,
"I don't know why you're walking away from me and i don't know what force is bringing you closer to me, I'm not that person who understands such weird feelings nor do i know what the meaning of love is. All that i know is, KUSHI MY LIFE IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT YOU! I BREATHE ONLY YOU! YOU'RE IN EVERY THOUGHT OF MINE DAMMIT AND I DON'T KNOW WHY. BUT IF THIS IS WHAT THE WHOLE WORLD CALLS AS LOVE, THEN KUSHI MAYBE THE TRUTH IS THAT I LOVE YOU AND I CAN'T LIVE A MOMENT WITHOUT YOU!"
Kushi was in tears the moment arnav confessed his love, she held onto arnav's hands and pulled it away from her face
"Arnav, have you said what you had to say? Then listen to what i have to say as well. I cannot accept your love, nor am i suitable for your love. Don't waste your time loving me Arnav coz there are more suitable people than me who deserve your love" replied Kushi
"Why? But why? I deserve an answer dammit" questioned arnav holding onto kushi's hands tight not realising that it was hurting her
"Leave me arnav you're hurting me" pleaded kushi
"I'm asking you something dammit answer me!" Demanded arnav
Kushi pulled herself away from arnav and shouted out "I'M A PROSTITUTE ARNAV!"
arnav was shocked over kushi's confession "did you get your answer!" Cried out kushi and she fell down with her face covered with her palms...
Anupamaa
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