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I know everyone wants to know about Khushi's past but I have something else for you today...
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CHAPTER 3
The week was no different for Arnav and Khushi instead they had to work more coz next week their team was on leave for the trip. Few things which were different in this week were, Khushi no more wandered on the streets of Bangalore, her behavior was a bit friendly with her team mates and especially with Arnav and the most prominent and exceptional change was her smile. A very small smile adorned her face all the time.
It was Sunday and they had to leave for Goa. The bus was waiting for everyone at the office gate. It was a road trip of 9-10 hrs and a bus was hired for the same.
Arnav was late and everyone was waiting for him. If Khushi wouldn't have called him in the morning then surely he would have to come alone by some other bus.
The moment he climbed the bus he scanned the entire bus to find his sunshine. He found her on the second last seat of the bus and guess what she was not sitting alone. The moment he saw Paridhi sitting next to Khushi his face lost its glow. What was Paridhi doing with Khushi? Why was she not sitting with her boyfriend Rahul', he thought and became upset. It was a 10hr journey and he couldn't sit with Khushi. Damn it.' He cursed himself for being late.
Paridhi was the only girl who used to talk to Khushi rather only girl with whom Khushi used to talk coz they had shared the same apartment for 2yrs. Only 2 months back she had shifted in with Rahul her boyfriend.
He found Rahul sitting on the seat just before Khushi. He kept his luggage on the shelf above and sat besides Rahul. Rahul was busy on his smart phone playing angry birds. But Arnav was more angry then the bird. He looked at Paridhi and she passed a sweet smile to him. This boiled his blood more.
Khushi on the other hand was busy talking to Paridhi about Rishi and Paridhi's brother.
Arnav threw his head back on the seat and closed his eyes. And the next moment he got startled with Rahul's voice. "Damn I missed it." Arnav looked at him and he looked at Arnav. "ASR I missed the target man." Rahul behaved like he missed the monthly target. "Me to Rahul", murmured Arnav. Arnav could very well understand Rahul's condition. Coz he also missed the chance to sit with Khushi. Rahul who was not able to hear Arnav continued with his game. Arnav closed his eyes again.
Few minutes later he felt a tap on his shoulder. He opened his eyes to find Paridhi standing with a smile on her. He raised his eyebrow asking her the reason of her standing there.
"This is my seat ASR", she said.
"But I" and the he stopped. What was he about to say? It was Paridhi who was standing there no one else. If she was standing there that means Khushi was alone now.
"Sure." He smiled and got up immediately. He sat beside Khushi and sighed in relief. How could he even think that Paridhi will sit with Khushi leaving Rahul?
The moment Arnav sat beside her his leg touched Khushi's leg and she moved her leg away.
"Sorry Khushi."
"It's ok Arnav." She smiled back.
Arnav adjusted himself decently on his seat in order to make Khushi comfortable.
Khushi was staring outside the window and Arnav was staring at her. Khushi was aware of his eyes and for the first time she was feeling something in her stomach. Though she didn't know what it was, but that something in her stomach was making her feel good.
"Thank you for calling me Khushi. Else I would have missed the bus." He started the conversation.
"It's ok Arnav. And I knew you must be sleeping so I called you." She stated looking at him but Arnav's changing expressions made her realize what she had said.
"So you used to listen to all my blabbering when I thought of myself being an unwanted person." He stared in her eyes and she became conscious.
"It's ok Khushi. I felt nice indeed."
Khushi gave him a smile and started looking through the window.
Arnav was happy, no very happy. When Arnav used to talk to Khushi and Khushi used to ignore him, he had told her that how difficult it was for him to get up early on Sunday mornings. And she actually remembered it. That means she used to listen to him.
With some chatting and eating they passed half the route of their journey. Some people were singing and enjoying and some were chatting. But Arnav and Khushi were busy in their own world.
Khushi thought of something and asked Arnav.
"Arnav since you are here who will take care of Dima."
At the mention of Dima his eyes became moist and his body stiffened.
"Dima died 3yrs back Khushi."
Khushi was stunned. She could not believe what she heard. Dima was Arnav's dadi. And the way Arnav used to talk about her she felt that she used to live with Arnav. But no she didn't.
Khushi kept her hand on his fisted hand and he relaxed at her touch.
"Arnav you can share with me. I hope you can trust me that I will be able to understand."
"I know you understand Khushi."
And looked at her. He blinked away his tears and prepared himself to tell about his Dima and his past. He looked away and started.
"Khushi I used to live with my Dima in our house here in Bangalore. She died due to cardiac arrest. Her age and my dad were the reason of this Khushi."
"Your dad." Khushi was confused. What did his dad do?
"Khushi I was born in Mumbai. I did my schooling their but then due to my dad's business he shifted to Canada. Dima was not ready to leave India so my dad left her here and we with my mom left for Canada. I never wanted to leave Dima but she forced me to go with my parents."
He took a deep breath and continued. "After reaching Canada I realized the actual relation between my mom dad. For the society they were perfect couple but inside the room they were enemies. They used to fight daily. Dima always protected me from all this but in Canada there was no one. And in two years they got separated. My mom started living with some other man and my dad with some other women."
Arnav was feeling disgust. Khushi pressed her hand on his hand tightening her grip. Arnav made another eye contact with her. He could actually see that she understood. He broke the eye contact and then started again.
"I started living in hostel. And after completing my education I came back to India. Khushi my Dima was no more the same Dima. Although we used to visit her but still she missed us a lot specially dad. She loved him a lot. Mom dad were against my decision of staying in India but I didn't listen to them. I started working in Mumbai. After one year I got transferred to Bangalore. Since my dad is a wealthy man he brought me a house here where I live now."
Taking a pause he continued.
"Dima used to miss him a lot Khushi. Although I was there for her and she gave me all her love but still she used to yearn for his son. And this was the reason she died Khushi."
"I could not do anything to save her Khushi." And a tear rolled down his eyes.
"Arnav you gave her happiness in last days of her life. You did your best Arnav. Please don't blame yourself." Khushi tried to explain.
"Khushi I hate my dad. From the day I came to India he had started depositing a large amount of my money in my account and I donate that amount to various charities. I never used his money. Mom and dad do come to India to meet me when they get time. But I hate them Khushi, especially dad."
Khushi was also hurt. She was feeling bad for Arnav. She had to do something to distract him. Then she recalled how Arnav used to tell about his Dima and the glint in his eyes telling about what she used to say to him. So Khushi thought of asking him the same.
"Arnav once you told that Dima was damn angry on you coz you drank beer with friends."
Arnav at once understood that she was trying to distract his mind. He was delighted to see care for himself. No one ever cared for him after Dima. But today he got one who actually cared.
So he started with the story. They talked about Diam, their friends, school days, college days and random stuff.
Arnav wanted to ask about her family and Saurabh but didn't ask her. He wanted Khushi to tell about her past when she was comfortable with it.
After talking, Khushi dozed off on Arnav's shoulders and Arnav on her head for the rest of the journey.
Paridhi who saw them sleeping like that clicked their pics.
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They woke up when they reached Goa. They had booked few rooms in a sea facing resort. It was evening and everyone was already tired. So they decided to take some rest and then meet around 12am at night for a bonfire at the seashore near the resort.
Since some were couples and others were friends so they had already decided who will stay with whom. Arnav and Khushi were last one to join so they were left alone with Paridhi and Rahul. They had two rooms, one key was with Rahul and other with Arnav.
"I and Khushi will stay one room and Rahul you and ASR can share one room", spoke Paridhi. Although she wanted to stay with Rahul, but she knew that Khushi will not stay with Arnav.
Rahul's face fell automatically. She wanted to be with his girlfriend and here he had to stay with ASR and that to in Goa. But when he looked at Khushi he smiled and nodded his head in agreement.
Khushi could sense that Paridhi and Rahul were not happy and she didn't want to spoil their trip.
"I will stay with Arnav. You both stay together."
"No Khushi, we will stay together like we used to stay in our apartment." Paridhi tried to convince Khushi.
"Trust I will be fine with Arnav. He won't eat me up." And Khushi chuckled.
Arnav could understand why was Khushi agreeing to stay with him.
"Khushi you stay in the room. I will be fine on the couch kept here."
Khushi stared at him and then scanned him from top to bottom. And then she scanned the couch kept in the lobby area.
"Ok, as you wish." She shrugged her shoulders and spoke.
And then she stepped towards him and took his luggage bag and room keys from his hands and along with her luggage she started walking towards the room.
Everyone was a little surprised with her behavior. She turned around and smiled at Arnav.
"Aren't you coming Paridhi." Paridhi too took the room keys and taking her luggage followed Khushi.
Arnav was glad. The way Khushi was reacting was making him confident that soon she will not have to search for the reasons to be happy. She will be happy from her heart and soul. Today she was trying but soon she will actually be happy like her name.
Rahul and Arnav stayed there after the girls left. Arnav was busy in his thoughts when he heard Rahul speaking.
"It's very hard to love a person and not get love in return. You are truly a very nice man ASR. Sometimes I wonder how you manage to stay her friend after she rejected you in-front of entire office."
"Rahul, Khushi needs a friend not a lover. And I don't mind giving her what she wants. And regarding rejection, it was me who had proposed her in-front of entire office. So it was not possible for her to reject me personally."
And he smiled at Rahul. Rahul was actually feeling proud that he had a friend like ASR.
"Rahul, Khushi actually needs happiness in her life. After..." before Arnav could continue Rahul spoke. "After Saurabh".
Arnav looked at him and he gave him a I know it all' look to Arnav.
"Paridhi told me about Saurabh. She told me that Khushi loves a guy named Saurabh but they cannot marry coz Saurabh's parents are not ready to accept Khushi."
"Saurabh got married few weeks back" came Arnav's reply.
Rahul was shocked. He looked in Arnav's eyes for him to continue.
"Khushi told me this when Rishi her brother informed her about it. She was shattered. But now she is trying to move on."
Rahul pressed Arnav's shoulder. "I wish she tries to forget Saurabh and move on in life with you." And he smiled.
"Rahul do you think forgetting Saurabh is possible for her. She loved or may be loves him now as well. May be sometime in future she tries to move on with me or with anyone she loves. But one thing is for sure I will never ask her to forget him coz it's not possible. If I can never forget my Dima then how can I expect that she will forget him? It's not possible Rahul."
"You do tend to take a step further and move on but forgetting someone. It's not possible. Dude I can never forget you and you are expecting Khushi to forget his first love."
Rahul was beyond surprised listening to Arnav's words. Was he actually a man of this time? His thinking was far beyond the thinking of today's man.
"Khushi is very lucky to have you in her life ASR."
"Rahul to be very frank, I do want her to love me back but I will not feel bad if she finds a better person for herself. I just want her to be happy and for that I will do anything."
Rahul just gave him a hug and they walked towards their rooms.
"Enjoy Rahul." And Arnav winked at him.
Arnav went inside the room to find Khushi arranging their stuffs properly on the shelves and cupboard. She was actually arranging his stuff.
Arnav scanned the entire room and found a couch in the room as well.
"I will be fine on the couch Khushi, you have rest on bed. Then we will go for bonfire."
"I don't think I should go their Arnav." Khushi was confused.
"Why, what happened Khushi." Arnav got concerned.
"I don't think I fit in here." She said making a dull face.
"Of-course you fit in Khushi. And we will go. Ok."
"Ok." She smiled and went in the washroom to change.
When she came out Arnav went in. He had the habit of sleeping in only shorts, his upper body bare. So when he came out Khushi's eyes got stuck on his perfectly sculptured body. His abs, his chest, his shoulder, his arms and most importantly his skin color. He was a sight to watch. Khushi foolishly scanned him from top to bottom God only knows how many times and Arnav felt strange.
"Khushi actually I have a habit of sleeping like this, I hope you don't mind." Arnav asked her seeking her permission and to find out what was going in her mind.
"No I don't mind." She spoke still looking at him and then she realized what was she doing. Khushi have you gone mad. What are you doing?' She thought and moved her eyes away from him.
"I will have a nap Arnav you also take some rest" and she laid down on her bed.
Arnav could sense a little discomfort in Khushi's eyes, but since he was not sure or rather he didn't wanted to rush in that field so he decided not to think about it.
Arnav went to the couch and laid there. Khushi could see Arnav but Arnav couldn't see Khushi coz Arnav's couch was on a side and a bit in-front and Khushi's bed was in the centre and behind.
Khushi looked at him and then got up. Her throat was dry. She gulped down the entire water in the bottle and tried to sleep.
Her mind went to the story Arnav told her about his past. She closed her eyes but couldn't sleep. Her mind went to the day when she got this job when she was in Aligarh, her home town.
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Avni. Edited by avni_barun - 11 years ago
d best dialogue and very good moral 4 us to understand dat when u looses something dat doesn't mean its d end of our happiness
. We can get it back if we see beyond dat point. Avni hats-off to u 4 dis beautiful message to all of them to see and understand how we should perceive our life once lost its track
.
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