Hello All,
Thank you so much. I appreciate the time you give to my story. Thanks for the Diwali and exams wishes too.
PS: I replied on pages 116 to some comments. Check the previous page too.
PPS: I have three exams in the next week, so won't be able to update!
A Special Mention for kajol 'PrInCeSs_dIVa' for her amazing comments. Happy to have you as a reader to this story of mine :)
Chapter Twelve:
Being There
Khushi woke up with a light heart; she felt unusually good. She opened her eyes slowly to find Arnav sleeping on his side of the bed, she recalled what happened last night. After clearing everything between them, she had asked him to sleep on the bed and he did after asking, Are you okay with that? 'How can someone be so kind and selfless? After everything he asked that question just to know if I'm comfortable!' She thought with a bitter smile. Unconsciously, she moved closer to him studying his features. He looked sleeping peacefully for the first time since their marriage, since two months. Her eyes moved from the hairs on his forehead, to his eyebrows, to the scar on his eyelid, how come that she had not noticed it before? What accident caused this scar? she wondered before moving her eyes to his nose, light stubble and lips. She closed her eyes at the trance of her thoughts, it is not right to do this! She scolded herself. 'O my God, please forgive me.' Her face looked pale as if she committed a sin.
She got up to have shower, and get ready for the day.
________
Her phone buzzed when she was in a class at eleven and a half indicating his name. She quickly opened the massage to read it. Her heart felt something strange yet good reading his question. Tum Theek Hoon? She could read concern between the lines, but for what? She liked it when he asked this question last night and now he send a message to ask the same one. Actually he asked 'How are you?' when they were asked to have alone time before marriage. Does it matter to him to know what and how I feel? To know if I'm alright?
Yes. Why are you asking this? She replied after five minutes.
I just thought that you must be worried for uncle. He replied back in seconds.
I am worried, but I got over my fears. She waited for the class to end before replying.
Great! Glad to know this. See you later.
What does he mean by later? Silly me, of course, he will see me at home. Home? Which home? When did it become a home for her? Not knowing how to reply back, she sent a smiley.
:)
Seeing the smiley, Arnav smiled back sighing. He wished he could see her smile, and he got his wish hours later when he was standing at the door of Shashi's room in the hospital. Her face broke into a beautiful smile seeing him.
"Arnavji?"
'Was that excitement in her eyes at seeing me?' He thought hopefully loving her reaction.
"Hi," Arnav greeted stepping in the room smiling to Khushi.
"Namaste, how are you uncle?" Arnav joined his hands together to greet Shashi then Garima.
"I'm fine, beta. I Just want to be home."
"You will be home tomorrow, uncle. Just some hours are left. Where's Buaji?" Arnav asked as he took a seat beside Khushi.
"Oh Buaji is so excited for Babuji's return, so she got home early to make everything ready for him. I'm sure she will draw rangoli at the door's threshold, and cook Babuji's favourite dishes. She will prepare for a pooja, I'm sure." Khushi replied with a twinkle in her eyes.
"That's great." Arnav nodded smiling at her.
"Arnav beta?" Shashi called him.
"Ji, uncle."
"Thank you so much. Even a son does not do what you're doing for us, beta."
"You called me beta then thanked me? You're just like my father, uncle."
________
On the ride home, Arnav was happy because Khushi herself has told him that she wanted to go home as she felt tired excusing herself from her parents, unlike the last days when her Amma or Buaji were asking her to go home. For the happiness he felt, he started driving at a racing speed as driving was a hobby for him. Khushi tried to compose herself and tolerate the speed, but she could not, so she put a hand on his arm calling him.
"Arnavji."
"Khushi, kya hua?" A glimpse at her urged him to park the car.
"Khushi, why are you shivering?" He was shocked to see fear in her eyes. "Khushi?" His hands touched her shoulders softly.
"I hate the high speed." She could not stop the flow of tears running down her eyes.
"You should have told me. Just relax." Her eyes connected with his to find so much concern for her, which made all the feelings she could master overflow at the moment as a surge of missing for her parents possessed her. He was taken aback when Khushi threw her arms around him hugging him, "I miss my parents." She said between her sobs as his arms engulfed her in a warm embrace. Arnav knew that she meant her real parents this time. He had been told by Shashi uncle that Khushi was an orphan and her parents died in an accident, but he did not know that Khushi has phobia from high speed.
If he could do something for her to stop her pain, he sighed rubbing her back soothingly. In her need to have more warmth, she tried to hug him as tight as possible, crying on his shoulder, Arnav pulled Khushi on his lap as the distance between the two seats did not provide a comfortable position. As Khushi moved comfortably in his arms still sniffling lost in her childhood's memories, her breath fanned on Arnav's neck causing a sensual torturing feeling inside him that he arched back to feel her breath more. Get a grip, Raizaada! It's not the right time for such thoughts. He was sure that Khushi was ignorant to her innocent actions' effects on him, that if she were aware of their position in the first place, and he was proved to be right when some cars' horns startled her making her aware of their position.
"Sorry," She mumbled moving to her seat.
"It's okay." He wanted to ask her about her parents, but then changed his mind thinking it would not be the right time or maybe she would not be comfortable to share those memories, so he decided to give her some time. "Next time when something bothers you, you can tell me and I'll do what you want. For now I won't drive fast in your presence," His words were like a promise to her.
"Thank you." Khushi said in a low voice. She did not know for what she was thanking him as he had done a lot for her and her family.
"There is no need to thank me, Khushi. Shall we go?" He asked Khushi who just nodded not wanting to voice herself. He is truly a gentleman, she concluded.
_________
"Khushi, wait. I'll drop you." Arnav ran the last stairs quickly to keep up with Khushi. Turning to look at him, she gave him a sheepish smile, memories of last night still fresh in her mind.
"Khushi bitya, we are visiting your family today. You father will be home, right?" Nani asked Khushi coming from the living room.
"No. No one is going there today," Arnav butted in before Khushi could speak.
"Why Chotey?"
"Not today. Uncle needs some rest. You can go tomorrow, alright?"
"That's right, Chotey." Nani felt proud of her grandson for taking a wise decision.
"Chalo, Khushi." Khushi followed Arnav to the car. She had spent the half of the night thinking of what he had done and how would she be able to do something for him in return. Little did she know that their relationship was bigger than any giving and returning back.
Arnav and Khushi headed to the hospital to take Shashi home as Arnav wanted to be apart of the moment. "Won't you get late?" Khushi asked as she wore the seatbelt.
"Being there for your family is greater than any work." He replied with a smile.
"Are you a human?" She blurted out unintentionally. At first, he looked at her confused then he laughed seeing her expression.
"Are you making fun of me?" Khushi asked pouting.
"What?...No!...You're the one who is making fun of me." He replied.
"I was not making fun."
"So, what was that? You know I'm supposed to be upset with you now." He pretended an upset face, but he was not so god at that as his eyes always reflects his heart.
"Oh, no. I did not mean it in that way. I'm sure you're a human...What am I saying? Well...you're too good to be true sometimes, and maybe always. Like angels, yaar." Thinking too much must be the reason behind such dialogues from her, she thought.
Tell me your feedback 😳
Shaimaa,
Current Affairs
59