Arhi FF: The Storm Thread 2--LINK TO THREAD 3 PG 147! - Page 58

PART 22

Arnav pressed his hand against the front door, pushing it open, allowing Khushi to wobble inside, his hand hovering over her back.

As they slowly stepped inside, they could feel the emptiness settle low in their stomachs, now all they could do was wait.

"I will call you once the results are in," the Doctor had said, smiling as she stood up, answering Arnav's question before it had escaped his lips, "it should take three days maximum."

Three days?

Arnav shook his head.

How on earth were they expected to wait that long?

"Please do come in though if you have any questions," the Doctor insisted. "Can now just follow my colleague, she'll take you for the x-ray and then to the cancer unit."

He had noticed how Khushi stiffened at the Doctor's next statement

"I'd actually like you to come in tomorrow,get an idea of what other patient's may experience."

After they had left the hospital Khushi not said anything, not a word, her face painted expressionless, but he could hear the reeling of her mind as it sped her through varying thoughts.

He glanced at Khushi, watching as her eye stared ahead, unblinking, fogging slightly, revealing her drifting as she unconsciously rubbed the bandage concealed by her suit.

He could feel as the helplessness grasped him, engulfing him in a surrounding that was so unknown and yet so familiar.

It was related to her, and when it came to her, he could always feel the control simply slipping away from his fingers like water dripping through a closed fist.

"Saab!"

Arnav snapped his head to the side to see Nandini striding towards them, her hands clasped together, the apron picking up the air as it flew slightly, only to settle back against her stomach as she halted.

"Lunch?" She questioned, looking up expectantly at them, not yet pulling Khushi out of her thoughts.

"Yes, please," he said, causing Nandini to turn back and rummage with the stove.

Stealing another glance, he watched as Khushi continued to stare ahead of her, her fingers collecting the cloth of her dupatta, crumpling it.

"Khushi..." he said softly, noticing how she did not react, the crumpling continuing.

He took a step forward, raising his hand to put it on her shoulder, his fingers only brushing her material when she suddenly jumped, gasping as she snapped her head up.

"Sorry," he said quickly, watching as she swallowed hard, raising a hand to slow down her heart, "I didn't mean to scare you."

She nodded, her eyes still wide.

Was she okay?

"It is lunchtime!" Nandini announced, immersing from the kitchen with two rice-filled plates, ushering them towards the dining table.

He saw her give Nandini a small fake smile, watch as her fingers shook slightly as she brushed away her fringe from her eyes, settling in a chair, the smile instantly dropping as Nandini went back to the kitchen.

He watched her pick up her spoon, dipping it in the rice and bringing it to her lips, her eyes foggy again.

What was she thinking about?

"Saab, did you not like the food?" Nandini's voice rang, looking at his little attempt of eating, Khushi's eyes raising as she looked at his abandoned spoon.

"No, I mean, I'm sure it's nice," he said, spooning in some food, feeling it burn the top of his mouth.

"Good!" Nandini said, hopping back to the kitchen.

Khushi continued to eat, her mind whirled as she looked down at the grains of rice dispersed on her plate.

Three days-

Three days or less still she would find out the ultimate answer to this cancer-

Three days or less she would find out if she was going to live-

Or die.

The coldness of the fear weighed down on her chest and she could feel it pulling harshly as she exhaled.

Her life was hanging by the thread that was so fragile-

So unbelievably weak-

Labelled as hope.

She swallowed down the rice, as a lump now formed in her throat.

Was she going to survive?

Her eyes began to sting as the next question arose, now echoing in her mind

Was she going to die?

She could feel the tears coming, as she rubbed her eyes with her free hand.

"I-I'm just coming," she said, pushing back her chair and standing up, keeping her eyes down, "w-washroom," she managed, speeding away from Arnav and his questioning gaze.

Locking the bathroom door behind her, did she allow herself to sink to the ground, the fear in her chest escaping as painful sobs.

It sounded stupid, childish to think-

To even imagine-

That everything would be okay-

As if the cancer would vanish-

A wave of searing pain simmered through her ribs, confirming her thoughts-

It was here-

In her-

And it wasn't going to let go so easily.

She let out another weep, burying herself in her hands-

Was she dying?

Had there been signs?

The nosebleeds, the pain, the little glimpses of hope-

Is that what they all meant?

She closed her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks as she clenched her teeth.

She wanted his arms around her-

Feel him against her-

His soft whispers that sealed all her questions with hope-

'My concern is you'

His voice rang within her-

What did that even mean?

Could she allow herself to think-

That he truly did care for her-

That maybe even L-

Stop it, Khushi

A voice said, slicing through her thoughts, remember what he's done.

And so her mind circulated painfully with memories, drowning her until there were no more tears to weep.

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

Afternoon slowly rolled into evening and Khushi did her best to stay away from him, moving to another room, whenever he would enter.

She had ended up in the balcony, hearing his very faint voice on the phone.

Breathing in slightly she watched the setting of the sun, its fiery dropping echoing throughout the sky.

It was cold-

Colder that you would have thought.

The air lacked fill, and it waved through the balcony, beneath her dress, swaying it slightly.

She watched the tide angrily pick up and then fall, hearing it crash against the water, smashing its way to the shore.

Stepping forward, she pressed her hands to the metal bar, its icyness numbing her fingers as she focused on the sea.

She leant more forward, her eyes darting directly down.

It looked like an a hundred, or two hundred drop.

Her foot found a small ledge, pushing her up only slightly higher.

What if she was just to jump?

Just to end it all here?

Would anyone blame her?

No, Khushi

Stop it.

Gasping slightly, she blinked, shocked at her sudden thoughts.

Before she could step down she could feel the familiar hand around her wrist, pulling at her as she stumbled behind him, only for his grip to tighten, still rushing them away from the balcony.

She could feel her wrist empty, hearing the rolling of the transparent door, and then the vibrations of the glass as it sealed away the outside air, cutting it off.

"What the hell were you thinking?" She heard him roar, glancing up at him.

Shaking her head, she moved away from him, marching towards their door, heading towards the sitting room, when she felt his hand catch her's immediately pulling at her, sending her flying against his chest, only for him to place both of his hands on her shoulders.

"Damn it, Khushi!" He shouted, "how can you even think of doing something like that!"

She clenched her jaw, let out a frustrated sigh, knocking his hands away from her, "I wasn't going to do a-"

"The hell you weren't," he shot back as she shook her head at him.

She closed her eyes, it had just been a thought-

She wasn't actually going to do anything.

"I wasn't going to jump," she said, her voice rising with irritation.

Why did he even care?

"What if I hadn't come?" He questioned, his teeth clenched, ignoring her, "what if-what if," his voice lowered slightly, as he blinked, causing for Khushi to look up, frowning slightly, "what if just like Ma'" his voice broke at the last word.

She could feel the floor being yanked out beneath her as she saw his eyes suddenly glisten with tears, looking intently down at her.

Their eyes locked, allowing Khushi to silently explore his chocolate depths marred with grief.

His mother had committed suicide?

Why?

When?

How did she not know about it?

She could see the hardened mask that he had so many times placed completely vanish, leaving behind someone that was unknown to her as she watched a tear escape from the corner of his eye.

He quickly looked away, rubbing away the mark of sorrow as he cleared his throat.

"D-don't do that again, Khushi," he said, eyes flashing to her as she stood, "if something happened to you..." his voice growing higher and then cutting off, "just don't," he rasped, turning around and pacing towards the door.

He could hear the sounds of the wedding procession, his Di's laughter and then the sound of a gun shooting a bullet into his mother's heart, ceasing the sounds of happiness.

He wasn't going to let the same happen to Khushi-

He wasn't going to watch as let the bullet labelled as cancer take her-

Nor was he going to let her fall into the drapes of death.

The familiar twinkling sound shimmered through the air as he slowly turned around, and sure enough there she stood.

"I..." she said, her features highlighted with apprehension, "I'm sorry," she said softly, her eyes averted down, "I shouldn't have- It's not fair that I..." she quickly looked up, "it won't happen again."

His eyebrows still dipped down, a cold exterior shadowing the hurt so much so that Khushi involuntary shivered. She looked at how his eyes were still wide, replaced with what looked like anger.

"It better not, Khushi." He whispered and walked out the room.

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

She yawned widely as she folded her dupatta, belonging to the pink night suit she wearing and placing it on the edge of the bed.

Pulling away the softness of the blanket, she revealed a small space of the mattress, crawling in as the bed welcomed her.

She looked down, the tiredness weighing down on her eyes, seeing the lights dim above her, but she blinked defiantly, not giving in.

They still had not talked.

She gripped a handful of blanket as she stared at the shut door, separating them.

What was she supposed to do?

She noted that his was the first time in a while that he seemed unhappy with her. He would usually walk around, near her, asking the same question.

Tum teek ho?

But now he sat in the living room away from her, leaving her to her thoughts.

Should she get up and ask him to go to sleep?

But what if he wanted to be left alone?

She closed her eyes in frustration

How could she be so stupid?

She could feel coldness press against her, but she shrugged it off, remembering his tear-filled eyes, finding her own blurring as she slipped into a deep slumber.

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

Arnav marched into the room, unbuttoning his collar button, his eyes immediately seeking her.

The hurt was still there, waving through him, shaking him inside, choosing to ignore it he disguised it as anger.

His eyes settled in the corner of the room as he looked at the girl lying on the bed. He walked slowly to her, and as he inched closer to her, his fists unclenching as he felt the frustration seep away from his system before it had even grasped him. He settled next to her, his eyes absorbing her image.

Her eyes were shut, eyelashes touching her cheeks. He noticed that she looked paler than usual, the creaminess that showered her skin, completely lost.

His eyes settled to her fingers, curled delicately to her palm, resisting to brush his own against them, he stood up, feeling his heart tug as he gave her one last look.

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

The bright sun lit up the small room, allowing light to bounce off the walls.

His eyebrows pulled together, as he tucked the blanket closer to him. Opening on eye, he peered at the clock that sat on the bedside table. It ticked to eight thirty, as he shot up, his eyes wide.

Crap!

He stood up looking around.

"Khushi!" he called to her, as she lay. "Khushi wake up! We're late."

He noticed he didn't hear any movement from the bed as he threw the cupboard open looking for a fresh shirt.

"Khushi!" yelled reaching out for a hanger. "Come on, Khushi!"

He froze, staring at the navy cloth, hand gripping the plastic.

Turning around, he looked at the bed, seeing his wife lie there.

Unmoving

Okay, there it is!

I was quite nervous about this update, so please don't forget to comment and like :)