Part 18
She had changed beyond what he had thought; she had become, devoid, completely, of emotions. She had flinched when that bangle had pierced in her wrist and now, when that gigantic glass was doing the same she was fine, smiling, hugging goodbye to the twins, who didn't know what their mother was facing.
He rushed to her and slid his foot under hers, stopping her foot from becoming habitat of that glass entirely. Her eyes widened as he did so, then he eventually kneeled and hugged the two too. The emotions, which the twins, were being showered with, were the best they had gone through their entire lives. Their dream of getting complete parental care was being fulfilled and nothing more they needed.
They both kissed their parents on either sides of their cheeks and left skipping all the way.
*~*
As soon as they did Arnav picked up Khushi in his arms, she didn't resist. There was no use of, he knew about her foot and wouldn't leave her even if she would defy. He carried her to her room, dropped her on the bed, took the bandage and cotton from first aid box and began to look into her eyes, intently, making her curious.
Khushi: "Kya hua? Aap ruk kyun gaye?"
"What happened? Why did you stop?"
Arnav: "Thoda nahin...bohot dard hoga."
"It will pain not little...but a lot."
Khushi: "Ab peeche mur ke dekhne ka faida nahin...kadam uthaaya hai tou nibhaana padega...hum dard bardaasht karenge."
"There's no use of looking back now...the step is taken, it needs to be fulfilled...I'll bear the pain."
He squeezed the lower part of her foot to stop the blood circulation and in one single go pulled the glass out of her foot. He looked at her; there was no change in her face except that it had gone red. He started to clean the blood with the cotton that Daadi barged in the room.
Daadi: "Arnav! What are you doing?"
She cried at the top of her voice and immediately shook Khushi's foot from his hand.
Daadi: "Are you gone mad? You are touching her foot? What has got into you that you are degrading yourself?"
Arnav: "I was just cleaning the injury...why are you making such a fuss of it?"
Daadi: "She is not here to be served by you, but to serve your so called children."
She was speaking according to her habits; even if he tried to console her she would continue her tactics. He just grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the room and back and locked the door. Khushi was completely shocked. He made her sit down and continued with the bandaging; after it was done he left without muttering a word.
*~*
The twins after completing their homework were allowed to play football in the corridor only for one and half hour. As they played their ball went into a room which was completely dark. At first they went towards it but then Karan stopped in midway. He was too scared to step forward but Aleisha ensured him of her company. He went inside and closed the door after switching on the lights. Karan spotted his ball next to cupboard and both of them went towards the ball. Aleisha knelt to pick it up, as she lifted it, Karan spotted a diary sticking out of the cupboard. One of the diary's contents was falling; he sat down and slid the picture out to get full view of it.
It was picture of Arnav Khushi's engagement.
Karan: "Aleisha see this girl! She's just like Mumma..."
Aleisha slapped her hand against head laughing for her brothers cute innocence.
Aleisha: "Karan...this is Mumma."
Karan: "But so colourful?"
Aleisha:"Hmmm...Mumma was all bright you know but she changed."
Karan: "So this diary would have more Mumma's pictures right?"
Aleisha: "It could be..."
Karan: "So let's explore the diary na..."
Aleisha: "No...it would be bad manners."
Karan: "Okay so I'll see only first few pages please...?"
Aleisha: "Okay but be quick."
When they opened the first page some events were numbered, Karan was hyper to flip over but Aleisha held him suddenly, "Karan..."
"Hmmm...?"
"It Mumma's birthday tomorrow..."
"What! Where is it written?"
She pointed her finger towards the third line.
"But Mumma said that her birthday doesn't come. What should we do Aleisha?"
"We can try...if it won't be then let it, but if it would then we can make her happy."
"We'll give her a surprise today at 12, but what about cake and gift?"
"Papa will help us." She kept the diary in the cupboard and went to call Arnav.
"Hello? Papa...its Mumma's birthday tomorrow."
"Yes, I know...I mean so what happened..."
"We want to give her a surprise today but we don't have decoration items, gift or cake, can you bring?"
"Okay...I will."
Wow! They rejoiced, they'll delight their mother and she would be surprised wouldn't she? But they had to manage this secret till she tucked them to sleep.
At almost 11, Arnav's room lit up. He had got all the things in one bag which needed to be sorted out and then set properly. They began with the decoration. Arnav lifted up the twins so they could decorate the room according to their likes. They set the cake on the table and a knife beside it.
"Dad..."
"Hmmm...?"
"Where's the gift?"
There was silence in the room for a minute. Karan feared that he might have forgotten but thankfully no. Arnav took out a box wrapped in shiny green paper from his cupboard and handed it to Aleisha.
"What is in this?"
"Sari..."
"But Mumma doesn't wear sari's..."
"Maybe if you ask her she would."
It was the same one he had gifted her years back when they had had a nok jhok. She didn't wear that sari but he had managed to console her by dragging her in his arms. He wanted to see her in the sari he had specially bought for her.
When five minutes remained to go for 12 am Arnav went to Khushi's room and knocked the door. She came out completely clueless of the midnight arrival.
"Aleisha has woken; she is asking you to come to her."
She quietly nodded and both of them started to go, but the whole matter was still mysterious to her, firstly Aleisha rarely woke up from her deep sleep, secondly it was Karan who called her to make him sleep by singing a lullaby. How could Aleisha behave so weirdly all of a sudden?
When they reached Arnav's room, the door was shut. Khushi started to open it when Arnav stopped her; she asked confusedly, "What happened?"
"Nothing..."
She was bemused, "If I'll not go in then how will I make Aleisha sleep?"
He looked at his watch it was perfectly 30 seconds before 12.
"So let's go..."
He dragged her inside and closed the behind. The room was dark until the fairy lights got switched on, the bag of rose petals let loose above her and the twins started singing.
They ran towards her shouting,"Happy Birthday Mumma!"
They left her astonished, most of all how did they get to know that it was her birthday?
The questions cooked in her mind but more important than that was to thank them. She hugged them, thanking them numerous times for the happiness they brought in her life, always. They made her cut the cake. She fed them with her own hands and Arnav too. Then, finally came the turn of gift. They handed her the box.
Khushi: "Iss mein kya hai?"
"What's in this box?"
Aleisha: "Aap khud khol ke check karlo."
"Open and find it yourself."
When Khushi unwrapped the present, she recognized the sari immediately, there was no chance to fail. "Mumma, please wear it, only for us, only today, please?" Karan asked her earnestly. She did not want to dismiss his request and she agreed.
It took a long time but she finally came out. The twins were delighted to see their mother in the new avatar, she looked so colorful so bright.
For Arnav there were no words to describe her, even to say that she looked ravishing was just too small. A smile played over his lips which didn't go unnoticed by her.
Things were wound up then. She made sure that this time both of them were asleep and then she stood.
Arnav hadn't slept yet, he was just too involved in staring his Beauty. She took him outside them room. Atmosphere became quiet once again. She held his hands, brought them close to her heart and spoke,
"I know that you don't like me, that you don't want to live with me, that you hate me, but I love you. I want you to sleep with me...just for today. I'll pay you whatever amount of money you will ask but please."
End of Part 18
*~*
I know the story is undergoing many abrupt and steep turns, turns which readers are not expecting but you all will read what is highly unanticipated+startling and it is what will build up ArShi relation. Arnav's rudeness is too much to tolerate but as the story will HERALD things would become clearer.
Keep Calm and Rabba Ve (^_^)
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Please do share your precious comments and for PM'S a BUDDY REQUEST is all what I need.
*~*
Yasmeen
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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