Chapter 10: Silent Sufferings
In the following weeks, the residents of Shantivan saw the emergence of the angry young man they knew before Khushi fell into their lives. Arnav went from quiet and withdrawn to restless, energetic and focused. He spent all his time at the office, whipping AR back into shape. And it was much needed. After getting updates from Aman and Aakash, he realized how much his withdrawal had cost the business he had built up with his own hands. And more than wanting to bring it back to its heights, he wanted to make sure that he could hold his head high when Saakshi arrived. He could not stand to be belittled by her, and so he threw his energies into fixing everything he could. At home, he was short-tempered, rude and abrasive, and Anjali was thrilled. She considered this a vast improvement from the withdrawn spaced-out Arnav of the past two years. And so she threw her energies into goading him into reacting, by forcing him to eat, sleep, drink, attend pujas, spend time with the family. She was in her element. There was a nervous excitement in the air. As thrilled as the family was at Arnav's apparent progress, everyone knew that this was a sort of limbo phase, and the main event was still to come. What was it? No-one really knew.
The one person who wasn't affected by the hullabaloo was Aarav. For him, life continued as it had been. He went to school, he came home, he did his homework, he tended to the garden. NK watched him quietly, sat with him and talked to him when he could. If Aarav noticed the changes in his dad, he didn't express it. But NK noticed Aarav's eyes darting around, as though seeking something every evening when he tended to the garden. Arnav spent all his time in the office and hadn't spent time in the garden since he had started working on the new project with Satyam Creations. And in her excitement of having her brother back, Anjali forgot to pester Arnav to spend time with his son.
Aarav didn't say much, but NK knew how much the boy kept within him. And NK also knew that Aarav understood the pain his father was suffering, which is why he never made any demands of his father. He took what he got and quietly cherished it. He thrived under NK's attention, and he quietly looked forward to the small routines he still had with his father. But even these now were disappearing. And yet Aarav said nothing. But NK could read him like no-one could. And so, the third Friday that Arnav didn't come home in time, NK picked Aarav up from school and took him to Lakshmi Nagar to meet Buaji.
For the past year, Arnav, Aarav and Payal would go to visit Buaji every Friday. Khushi and Payal's Amma and Bauji had returned to Lucknow when Shashi had recovered sufficiently. Arnav had gifted them their house and shop back and Shashi and Garima enjoyed a quiet and peaceful life back in their old neighbourhood. But Buaji chose to remain in her husband's house, too attached to the girls to want to leave. And so Khushi and Payal would visit her every Friday. After Khushi left, Payal still went every Friday to spend the day with her aunt, while Aarav and Aranv would come after Aarav's school was done. Arnav would then drive them all to the temple, wait outside while they prayed, and then they would return to Buaji's house, have dinner and drive back home. For Aarav, the two hours a week he spent at Lakshmi Nagar were the two hours when he could almost pretend that things were normal. Buaji fussed over him, forced him to eat, and regaled him with stories of how crazy his mother was. Fun stories, with no pain, angst or longing. Just love. He would be enthralled by her stories or her antics, her sanak and all her kaands, told loving by her Buaji. NK chose to not intrude on the special father-son bonding time, so he didn't know what exactly it was that happened every week. But he knew that Aarav would come back with a semblance of a smile on his face. The past three Fridays saw Aarav more temperamental than he had ever been. So NK took things into his own hands and took Aarav to Lakshmi Nagar.
Arnav was pouring over AR staff progress reports when NK called. "NK, I'm busy, this better be urgent," Arnav ground out into the Bluetooth. On the other side, NK closed his eyes in frustration. The world may be thrilled to have ASR back, thought NK, but ASR is a total jerk. "Laad Governer," muttered NK. Arnav vaguely registered what NK said, and his eyes narrowed dangerously. "What did you call me?" he asked. "What else do you expect me to say? You suddenly found your calling after two years and forgot everything else?" NK knew that he was treading on very thin ice here, and potentially everything that Aakash and Di had worked towards could come tumbling down, but his concern for Aarav had led him to the point of no return. "Do you know where I am Nanav? I am at Lakshmi Nagar, with YOUR son, at YOUR wife's house, visiting HER aunt, who by way still scares the crap out of me. I understand you have a lot to do, but don't you think that this is one thing I shouldn't take your place for?" Arnav was so taken aback by this attack from the usually jovial NK, that he was rendered almost speechless. "Uh..the project, Khushi...she wanted..." he managed to sputter out before NK interrupted him. "Khushi also wanted you to look after HER son," he roared, and then abruptly hung up.
NK didn't know exactly what happened after that, but he knew that whatever he said must have penetrated deep in Arnav's heart, for his cousin arrived within the hour, with bloodshot red eyes. He walked into the house, his eyes seeking his son, who was in the kitchen learning to make chai from Buaji. Father and son acknowledged each other without sharing a word, but a lightness entered the air. "Hai Re Nand Kisore," started Buaji. "Good thing you came Babua. My week is incomplete without you and Aarav Bitwa's weekly visit." A visibly emotional Buaji gazed fondly at Arnav. "Please keep coming Arnav Bitwa," she said. "I'm sorry Buaji, for neglecting our visits. I promise, we will not give you the chance to miss us again." He looked at Aarav as he assured Buaji, silently apologizing.
Observing from the side-lines, NK sighed. It was during moments like this, that he felt most like the outsider he really was. He knew that Aarav would never seek him out the way he sought out Arnav, but the pure soul that he was, did not grudge his cousin any of it. Instead, he pasted on a smile, and sauntered into the kitchen, teasing Buaji and attempting to fry puris, spreading joy and cheer in the little house in Lakshmi Nagar.
__________________________________Thoughts? 😊 With Love, Shy
Chapter 11 here
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Anupamaa
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