Darmiyaan itna hain faasla ke abb sirf tumhari yaadoon ke saayo main ho jee raha.
Marne ki dua bhi jo humne mangi toh khuda ne qabooliyat na farmayi.
Chor ke hamesha ke liye chale gaaye ho, peeche chor gaaye ho sirf tanhai' tanhai aur sirf tanhai.
Arnav penned his thoughts down on paper. Since Khushi had left from his life he had become even more silent than before.
It had been 3 years now since that day, when Khushi breathed her last in his arms however the memory was still very vivid in his mind. The more he tried to forget the more he remembered. He tried locking that evil memory in his subconscious so he could no longer have access to it. However he failed miserably each time he tried. That mere thought of loosing his most priced possession haunted him day and night.
'Urgh!' he screamed letting out all the frustration and sorrow locked up inside him while throwing the glass across the wall that he was holding in his hand.
'Arnav, Arnav are you okay?' Anjali asked worried while knocking on his door that mostly remained locked since the unfortunate death of Khushi.
She had consistently been knocking on his door for the past 15 minutes but no luck. This had become a routine for Anjali now. She had become well aware that her brother wouldn't share his sorrows and the immense pain he was going through after the loss of Khushi but even after knowing very well that he wouldn't be opening his door she knocked each time she heard Arnav releasing his anger that he had bottled up for so long and then after a while she walked away dejected like always.
He was angry at God for taking away his Khushi. Why couldn't he have someone whom he loved beside him? First he had lost his mother at such an early age and then just when he had partly recovered from that loss making a promise to himself that he'll never feel so attached to anyone to such a degree he met Khushi. For who he let go of all his inhibitions and followed his heart completely only to feel what he had once felt when his mother past away. He was angry at God for writing him such a fate. He was angry at God for leaving him so lonely.
He reached the drawer on the side of his bed and took out a picture of Khushi. She was smiling; full heartedly and content. Those eyes, the lightest of brown: full of nothing but pure love. Her beautiful black hair: the length of her waist. She had her hair back while some of the tresses falling on her face. He smiled remembering her. She was so full of live and energy, even when she was diagnosed with the last stage of Leukaemia he heard her say 'Don't worry Arnav, life can't defeat me that easily' and smiled at him.
'Damn, Khushi why did you light a ray of hope in my heart? '
He remembered that day.
Flashback begins
Khushi's breathing became shallow and she was sinking. The doctors had tried everything but all in vein as her condition was only worsening as time passed. They heard her speak. It wasn't clear but they just about made out it was something related to Arnav.
The doctors called Arnav inside. He was shattered. His hair ruffled in a mess. His eyes: puffy and swollen due to the lack of sleep and continuous crying. His face: a shade paler due to the fear of losing Khushi forever.
As he approached closer to the bed she was laying on, she attempted to stretch out her arm and he held her hand tightly as he sat on the stool beside the bed.
'Take me in your arms. I want to hug you.' She asked
He hugged her tightly, clutching onto her as if his tight grip on her would make her stay. She broke the hug and placed her head in his lap whilst her caressed her check and smiled at her lovingly.
'Have I ever told you, you've a beautiful smile? Never stop smiling Arnav. Ever. Even after I've gone: for me,' She said.
'But you promised me you'll stay with me till the end?' he questioned her adding further 'You can't just break that promise.'
'I've lived up to my promise, I'm with you till the end. This is my end,' She said teary eyed.
Hearing her words a lone tear fell from his eye and trailed down his check. She noticed he was crying. She got up using all her energy and kissed his cheek, and then she cupped his face and kissed his forehead and said 'I want you to be strong.' And then she moved down to peck his lips and broke apart. 'Don't worry; I'll always be with you. Here' she said touching his left side of the chest where his heart was.
'Arnav, the time has come,' she said feeling she'd breathe her last any moment.
'Will you shut up with your nonsense?' he said with slight anger in his tone. She just smiled as she knew he was angry because he couldn't imagine her parting from him.
'Kiss me,' she asked. 'I still want the taste of your lips lingering on mine when I die,' she added
He was now on the verge of bursting out into tears but he couldn't fall weak in front of her. He held her face in his right palm while his left arm clutched onto her petite waist and kissed her lips passionately as if pleading her to stay. They broke apart and she rested her head in his lap once again as he caressed her cheek she closed her eyes and went into deep slumber; never to wake up again.
After a few minutes when he didn't hear her speak: he touched her check 'khushi?' but he heard no response. He couldn't believe it. He held her closer to his body hugging onto her madly 'Khushi!' he screamed at the top of his voice as realisation began to seep in that she was no more.
Flashback ends
Arnav was in tears remembering the worst day of his life. He hugged onto her picture and cried till his eyes couldn't keep open any longer due to exhaustion and he fell asleep.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''.
3 months later.
Arnav was sitting on the floor, his back leaning against the wall as he cried and once again remembered Khushi in the hospital.
Flashback begins
She wanted to see him. He entered the hospital room and sat besides her holding her hand while she began to speak.
'Arnav, I want you to make me a Promise,' she said.
'Mmm' what is it Khushi?' he asked
'Once I've departed from this world, I want you to provide our daughter with all the love in the world. Don't ever make her feel the emptiness of a mother in her life.' She said
'Shut up, Khushi. You're not going anywhere,' He said a bit annoyed at her for thinking of leaving him and he clutched her hand even tighter as fear crossed his mind.
'Promise' me Arnav,' she said now barely being able to speak as her breathing became shallower.
'I promise.' He said with now tears brimming in his eyes.
'Now, I can sleep a peaceful sleep' she said smilingly
Flashback ends
He realised how after Khushi's death he hardly paid any attention to their daughter. He hadn't been keeping up to his promise that he had made to Khushi.
He decided that he could no longer punish the little six year old child. Not only had she lost her mother, it was as if her father had also abandoned her. He made a choice. He died the day Khushi passed away. Although he was breathing but he wasn't living but now he had to live. He had to live for their daughter, for Khushi, for the promise he'd made to her.
He went to the bathroom to freshen up. After getting dressed he made his way downstairs.
'Hey, daddy's princess,' He said picking his daughter in his arms and kissing her cheek. He witnessed the huge smile that spread across her face.
'Hey, daddy!' She replied back all excited kissing his cheek.
'Come, let's have breakfast.' He said placing her on the chair at the dining table and giving her her breakfast bowl.
After finishing their breakfast Arnav asked her if she wanted to go to the park and she replied with a 'yes, and I want ice-cream,' she said and then hit her palm on her forehead 'oh, I forgot to say please. Please, daddy. Bua said it's bad manners if you don't say please.'
He smiled at her and said 'of course you can angel.' Come. Let's go' he added holding out his hand.
She grabbed his hand as they set off to a new journey. A journey set off to find new live, new happiness and new reasons to smile.
The void that I feel without your presence can never be filled.
Without you, I still feel lonely; incomplete.
Then I look at her, the beautiful gift that you bestowed me with.
Instantly, my face lights up. You're always with me right?
In the form of her.
I see a reflection of you in her. Your innocent eyes; that smile that would light up anyone's world and the same long black hair.
I wish you were here' to complete us: our family.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
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