Part-31
NK enters the house and sees Arnav brushing Daboo and murmuring something. He tries to hear closely and it goes like... "What do you think of yourself? Eh! You are the curse to my romance and I cannot bash you up also... she loves you. Devil with horns can't you listen what I say... I told you to stay out but you had to come and again wrong timing..."
NK sees he is continuously blabbering but the person, for whom he is using his verbal arrows snoring peacefully on his lap,
NK finds it hard to control his laugh. He looks for Khushi and sees her coming with a cup of coffee.
Her sound shuts Arnav and now he sees NK. His gleaming face tells him that he has heard everything and as usual glares him, who raises his hands in surrender.
Khushi looks at Arnav and turns her face trying hard to not to show her teeth before him.
Arnav notices it and feels like kicking the annoying thing out of his lap but he suppresses his wish and keeps him down gently and takes the cup from her hand.
When asked by NK, Khushi tells the whole evening incident and their laugh makes Arnav vulnerable. He spits fire through his eyes on that little curse of his love life, gently wagging his tail to get noticed by NK.
**
Next morning Arnav gets a call from Aman that one of his client is coming to meet him as she is already in Shimla and wants to talk to him about a deal.
Arnav walks towards garden to tell Khushi that they are expecting a guest in anytime, who is cleaning the lawn.
He sees Khushi engrossed in clearing the dry leafs from the ground. He thinks of helping her but hears a loud roar of engine near the main entrance. A Ferrari enters through it. The client has arrived.
Khushi also looks up to see who is it and both sees two beautiful long half bared legs touche the ground.
Arnab knows it is Sheetal. Once a famous model and now a successful business woman.
Khushi's eyes get wide open to see the new arrival... in this cold also she is wearing a sleeveless half gown and high heels matching her gown. She has attractive figure and personality and of course a beautiful face.
She walks to Arnav with a coy smile on her face.
In the first look Khushi doesn't like the girl and the way she is checking Arnav makes her jealous.
**
Arnav is standing near the porch which is also in the way to garden area.
Sheetal comes near him and stretches her arm for Arnav to shake but a sudden interference makes her stop in her task.
Khushi comes there and asks looking at Arnav, ye nayi mehman kaun hai? (Who is this new guest?) She completely ignores Sheetal, which makes her irritated more.
Arnav introduces them.
Sheetal checks Khushi top to bottom, who is wearing a short and long sleeve messy Kurta and Patiyala salwar, her hairs are tied in a pony tail. Her face and hands are dirty because of cleaning work, though she is pretty. Sheetal thinks her a caretaker or something as she never has met ASR's wife before and knows her dead as per media news.
Arnav welcomes her in and Khushi follows them.
**
For courtesy sake Khsuhi goes to make coffee for them. She comes back with three steaming cup of coffee. She has cleaned her face and also has changed in nice pair of salwar suit.
Khushi enters in living room only to see Sheetal is getting cozy with Arnav. She frowns and glares at her.
Arnav, who is been sitting uncomfortable with the extra sweet and friendly Sheetal, sees Khushi fuming.
He shifts a little to other side making Sheetal startled, who is been thinking her magic is working.
Sheetals follows his stun gaze and finds Khushi much to her annoyance.
She barks at Khsuhi, Do you have any manner? ... You should come knocking.
Khushi gets shocked and Arnav gets furious.
But before Arnav can say something Khushi strikes her with her lady ASRness', Manner word doesn't suit you. I do not think you too have it. This is my house and I can go anywhere anytime better you behave or leave.
Sheetal looks dumbstruck and a smile curves in Arnav's lips.
Sheetal now comes out of her shock and fumes.
She barks at Arnav, How dare she speak to me like that? If this is the way you treat your client... then I don't want any deal with you. (Poor thing is trying to threat ASR!!!! God save you.)
Now Arnav rises with his entire ASR aura from his seat(her mistake is unforgivable... how dare she try to insult his Khushi).
Sheetal shivers as she hears thunder like voice, (ASR) Miss Sheetal Mehra, I can buy your whole company and you are threatening me with a cheap deal... pity on your nut size brain... now apologize to her.
Sheetal gives a dirty look to Khushi, who is equally stunned to see the ASR in Arnavji.
Sheetal , Apology to her! My foot...
ASR completes her sentence,... will not be in place if you don't.
Sheetal is shocked and stammers, You...you aa..are threatening me...
ASR smirks and says, I don't threat and you know it well... and don't worry I don't raise hand on woman but I can take the ground beneath you and make my admonition real...
Sheetal knows it very well and thinks better to say sorry. She leaves the house after that as soon as she can.
Daboo who is been a silent spectator today escorts her out and says. Woooufff!! (Get out)
**
Khushi who is been watching all these in awe now looks at Arnav with her mouth open and sees him smiling at her...
Khushi apologizes to him for her sudden outburst. In that Arnav says, 'it is okay, she deserves it.'
He leaves the place gleaming because he has seen the jealousy in her eyes for him, first sign of her falling for him.
**
Next morning NK leaves for Delhi for a meeting. Arnav also asks her to check on Guptas and Raizadas.
At noon Arnav is busy on his laptop and hears a thudding sound in kitchen. A smile appears on his face thinking the last day's incident. He gets up and walks towards the kitchen.
**
What he sees there spins his head.
Khushi is sitting on the floor leaning to a shelf and wheezing rapidly.
Arnav crosses the distance between him and her in two long steps and kneels beside her. He cups her face in his hands and says, KHUSHI... Khushi tum...
Unable to speak Khushi only stares him.
unlike that day today Arnav knows what he suppose to do and asks her in a tensed voice, 'where is your inhaler?'
Khushi opens her mouth but ends up only inhaling hard.
Arnav has lost his calm by now and says aloud, 'KHUSHI... TELL ME WHERE IS THE DAMN INHALER? TELL ME DAMN IT! ...Try...' (Last one he pleads), he almost has tears in his eyes...
Khushi somehow manages to say 'in bedroom' and Arnav runs to get it.
In a minute or so he returns with the pump and helps her to take it and at the same time complains, "How many times have I told to keep a spare one in the kitchen? But you don't listen to me ... see what happened. If I wouldn't have been here, tell me what you would have done? But you have taken oath of not listening to me..."
Khushi looks at him astonished. She is trying to understand what he is blabbering. The words are coming out with authority. He knows her more than it seems and also very closely. But the question is How?'
Arnav, who has calmed a little seeing Khushi stable, sees her stun look and realizes that he has blurt out a little or more hints than necessary of their past. He helps her up not making an eye contact. Before she can ask anything he leaves in context of an important call.
A startled Khushi stays behind in her room on her bed, pondering over his every word.
**
Khushi comes in his room but doesn't find Arnav there. With a little hesitation she knocks and checks in the attached bathroom also. She looks around and sighs as she has expected this.
She looks through the window of his room and finds him standing near the fences.
In the fading twilight and in nocturnal background his figure looks like a rock, carved in human form. She admires him for few moments before snapping out of her trance remembering that she needsto talk to him. So she walks quickly to the garden.
**
Arnav is so lost in thought that he doesn't hear her footstep. He feels a pat on his shoulder and turns in a hurry. There she is standing right in front of him blocking his way. She is looking straight into his eyes and Arnav feels fear as he knows the time has come for some clarification and revelation.
Khushi sees his white face and knocks his chest with a finger to bring him back from his thoughts.
Arnav's glance falls on her questioning eyes.
Khushi directly comes to the point without giving him a chance to think...
Khushi- Arnav ji wo sab kya tha (what was that?)? (Interrogating mood with closed arms)
Arnav- what? (Scratches his head)
Khushi- aapko pata hai main kya baat kar rahi hu... (You know what I am saying?)
Arnav - seriously ... what? (Arnav smiles to hide his nervousness)
Khushi- aapko mere asthma ke bareme pata hai... aap mujhe pahle se jante... aapne aaise baat ki jaise humlog... mera matlab aap mujhe bohot kareeb se jante hai aur... aur mujhe yaad nehi ke hum... iss se pahle bhi hum mile hai... aab samajh me aaya ke hum kya baat kar rahe hai aur kya aap mujhe samjhayenge ke iss sab ka matlab kya hai (you know about my asthma... you knew me before... you talked like we... I mean you know me very well, very closely... and I don't remember we have met before... now you what I am talking about and will make me understand what is this all about)? (she says frantically losing her patience.)
Arnav- Wo Khushi, NK told me about you before he left and asked to take care of you... I was a little scared to see you like that and shouted. I am really sorry. (He knows she has caught her red handed and he tries cover up)
Khushi- Really! (She knows he is lying)
Arnav stays mum this time as he knows he is very bad at lying for long.
Khushi scans him closely making him feel cold.
Khushi speaks and Arnav gets alarmed by her voice, words and look.
Khushi- We both know that I have lost my 2 years because of the accident and I don't know what happened in those days... but from your words I somehow felt that you are connected to me and with the time I have forgotten. So tell me Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, how we know each other?
Arnav is taken aback! He never has thought that Khushi will guess so easily.
He searches for words and feels helpless. He is scared thinking what will hurt her more the lie or truth. How much he wishes if NK would have been here this time.
**
Khushi now grabs his shoulders and shakes him hard to let him know she is waiting.
Arnav gets astounded and fidgets.
Khushi has lost her patience and glares at him.
Arnav has no way left so he says softly- I am your husband Khushi...
Khushi looks taken aback! From her expression she looks clueless.
Arnav now elaborates to calm her down, Khushi some year back we got married and I was lucky to have a wonderful and perfect wife like you... (He is looking at her changing face while telling)... that day we went for a picnic with our families and then... (He goes in flashback and narrates everything happened)... this is how we got separated. For 2 days we searched the trench through and through but couldn't find you and everyone thought you, dead. (Now he looks down as tears has welled up in his eyes and he cannot hold them any longer... few drops fall on ground and on his shoes which Khushi notices... she is no better but holding herself to hear more from him)... they made me believe too. (Arnav walks a little away from Khushi, slipping his hands into his jeans pockets)... I lived a soulless life without you. I was always surrounded by your memories. I tried but I was unable to stop thinking about you and I left to London to find some peace. But your thoughts haunted me there too. (He now turns to Khushi, who is in tears thinking about the love she has forgotten... it hurts Arnav that he is saying the half truth. Khushi won't be able bare the whole truth and he is scared to lose her again. He fists his hands and turns back again)... when NK called me and said you are alive... I didn't believe... still I crossed the distance from London to Shimla in less than a day time, in a hope that he was saying the truth and then I saw you (He turns with smile in face). I couldn't believe my eyes and ears. How much I longed to hold you in my arms, wanted to feel your presence in my life... but NK told me about your amnesia and I controlled myself. I was more than happy to see you around... what if I couldn't hold you in my embrace, what if you didn't recognize me but I was happy beyond limit to get my Khushi back from the dead. (He is smiling through his tears) I could have waited for you for life but today in the heat of the moment I... DAMN!!! (Last one he says loud and throws his fist in air feeling enraged for his stupidity)...
Khushi is speechless after listening to him. She doesn't know what she supposes to do. She is crying silently... the pain in his voice has made her cry. She cries thinking how come she can forget such love and an important person in her life. She feels confused about what to do. She thinks shall I go and comfort him... but how? ... I don't even know what he is saying is true or not... but his voice tells me that he is in pain and he is hurt... his sorrow is real. I know when I first saw him, I felt a connection... I thought I know him but never in my wild dream had I thought him really connected with my forgotten past, that too my husband!! I may have shared a very intimate relation with him and now I can't remember that... Oh Devi Mayiaa what have you done to me? Tell me what I do now?'
She stands there with her thoughts clouding her mind and Arnav stands there staring her in remorse.
**
Arnav comes out of his trance with a tingling sound of her anklet and he sees her disappearing figure in darkness. She is walking away from him. He opens his mouth to call her, raises his hand to stop her. But he stops himself. He lowers his raised hand and closes his eyes to let go of the tears.
**
Arnav opens his eyes hearing sound in a distance. He sees Khushi, lying on the ground. A scream escapes from his mouth... KHUSHIII!!
He runs to her only to find her unconscious. He picks her head up in his lap and shakes her grabbing her shoulder, pats her cheeks with his palm... but doesn't get any response. He hurriedly lifts her in his arms and walks inside the house.
**
Arnav calls the doctor. As the doctor arrives he waits outside in tension.
The doctor informs that she is little stressed out but will be okay in sometime. The doctor leaves after that and Arnav seats beside her stroking her head gently. He waits for her to awake.
**
"I am your husband Khushi", Arnav's words rings in her ears and Khushi shots open her eyes. She is back in conscious.
It takes a few minutes for her to come into reality and to remember what happened and she closes her eyes again and tries to breathe to calm her galloping heart.
Khushi feels a weight on her forehead and frowns. She tries to look what is it and finds Arnav, sitting beside her. She bends a little to the opposite side to get full view and sees him sleeping, resting his head on the headboard and his left hand is lying on her forehead.
She can understand that he has fallen asleep while waiting for her to gain consciousness and taking care of her. Khushi admires the caring side of him.
Khushi slowly removes his hand and sits on her place. She looks at him impressed. His words coming back to her "I am your husband Khushi".
Hmm, if it is true then I am lucky to have husband like Arnav ji, but I wonder how it would have been like to be with him in his life... I wish I could have remembered. But truth or not this man has attracted me from the very first meeting...' she thinks without blinking once.
Khushi gets down of the bed and places a pillow under his hand in replacement of her and covers him with her blanket. She walks out of the room as silently as possible.
**
After a while Arnav wakes up from his slumber. He looks on his side only to find it empty and jumps out of the bed panic-stricken.
He searches for her in other rooms, kitchen, tv room... but Khushi is nowhere to be seen.
Finally Arnav arrives in the veranda and finds her standing there.
**
Khushi has a shawl wrapped around which she has clutched tightly around for the cold wind outside. She is facing the garden and watching the stars.
If it would have been some other time Arnav would have stood beside her and admired the stars with her. (Though she is not admiring the stars right now but trying to find her answers from her parents)
**
Arnav holds her arm and turns her to him, making Khushi startled. He grabs her other arm too and pulls her in a tight hug.
Khushi looks completely surprised!
He breaks the hug after moment and says in a shaky voice, Why you left my side? I was searching for you in whole house. What are you doing here?' and again pulls her near his heart.
Khushi understands his fear of losing her, again. She feels good to know how much he is in love with her, though she is not sure about her feelings for him. But everyone loves to be loved like this. She feels the warmth of his hug and thinks it feels nice.
Khushi rubs his back while staying in the hug and says, Hum yehi hai, ghabrayiye matt. Hum kahi nehi ja rahi hai, itni chinta matt kariye. Hum bas aapko uthana nehi chahti the to aapko bina bataye iiha aa gaye. Hume maaf kar dijiye. Hum thik hai. (I am here, don't be afraid. I am not going anywhere, don't worry. I didn't want to disturb your sleep so I came here without telling you. I am sorry, I am fine.')
Arnav now breaks the hug and cups her face and says, Khushi please don't do it again.'
Khushi nods up and down with a smile.
Arnav feels relaxed but tired. He is stressed out too.
Khushi sees his pale face and says, aap ko bhuk lag rahi hogi aur aap kaafi thak bhi gaye hain. Aayiye kuch kha lete hain aur phir sone chalet hain. (You look hungry and tired. Come, have some food and then let's go to sleep.)' She pulls him with his hand.
Arnav looks at her strangely. She is behaving so normally after everything. But he is glad. He feels satisfied inside and it brings a smile on his face.
Both enter the house hand in hand..
**
Next morning, Khushi comes with a cup of coffee in her hand and finds Arnav sleeping peacefully. She keeps the cup on the side stand. She goes to open the curtains.
When she comes back to him, gets amused to see his face in morning light. But she notices a frown on his face and it is because of the sunlight falling on his face.
She smiles and closes the curtain again. He needs to sleep and rest.
Suddenly Khushi feels a pull in her salwar and looks down.
**
It is Daboo.
Khushi picks him up in her arms and asks in hused baby tone, bhuk lagi hai? (Are you hungry?)
Daboo stares at her and makes a sound from his throat which is a clear indication of I am hungry'.
Khushi rubs her nose on his back and Daboo makes a soft growl sound.
They leave the room.
**
Arnav wakes up after a good night sleep and first thing he notices the cup.
He smiles and sits on his place. He stares at the cup and flash back of last night runs before his eyes.
Arnav thinks of calling NK and he picks up his cell and notices the time... it is 10a.m.
What the...? I was sleeping so late, but I never... he thinks while checking his phone and sees lots of missed call of Aman and NK.
Arnav first calls NK and tells him everything about last night and hears some sweet (in sarcastic) words from NK for his stupidity. He only calms down when Arnav assures him that Khushi is fine and normal.
Then he calls Aman who wants to talk about business but Arnav only says later. When he is about to cut the call, Aman informs him that Anjali and others are coming back from Canada in, 2 days, as Akash has informed this morning.
Arnav is happy at least he can now tell his family this good news but at the same time worries that how they will accept Khushi's condition and the biggest question is will Khushi come with him?'
He thinks of thinking of it later and leaves the room after freshen up, in search of Khushi.
**
Khushi is in the kitchen preparing lunch.
Arnav comes there and clears his throat to get her attention.
Khushi looks back and smiles to him making his morning brighter.
He aks, tum thik ho?'(Are you alright?)
She says gleaming,' bilkul thik hai' (totally fine.)
Arnav now asks with hesitation, Wo actually I wanted to ask, I mean... (Khushi patiently waits) do you want to ask anything about our past... I mean you don't remember... don't you want to know...'
For a moment Khushi feels sad to lose her memory but his gentle approach impresses her.
She says, I want to know it all...'
Arnav smiles and picks up a knife to cut some vegetable which Khushi has kept a side to prepare...
Khushi doesn't say anything to stop him as she is now used to with this kind of help from him. (but if Khushi would have remembered the old ASR then she might have made a pile of jalebies to get out of the shock and to save her a panic attack)
Arnav starts telling her about his family and their time together... of course only the good and funny ones.
Both are working together and Khushi is enjoying every bit of what Arnav is saying about her time spend with Raizadas.
Her eyes grow wide when she comes to know that Payel has got married on the same day with her and that too with Akash, Arnav's cousin brother and they live (I mean before the accident) in same house... though she feels a pang in her heart to forget about such precious memory but smiles broadly to think her sister will be with her always.
Story telling goes on with every small detail (how far Arnav knows).
**
Khushi chokes in lunch table when she comes to know that she has run a whole business for 6-7 months and has taken business decisions with Shyam. She gets hick ups for laughing while having her evening tea, when Arnav tells her that he is been jealous of NK. She gets tears and cuddles Daboo when Arnav tells her about Anjali's baby boy with tears in his eyes, who is now almost 5 months old and whom he haven't seen for more than a month now. Khushi gets overwhelmed in joy when she hears that Anjali and Shyam have given her the opportunity to keep the name of their baby, Ayushman. Khushi claps in excitement when Arnav describes her the day when they have gone to picnic and last when he describes the accident. Khushi doesn't believe herself that she can take such bold decision. She covers her face with her palms as she feels the way she would have felt that day. She feels the fear in every pore of her body and shivers thinking the whole situation.
Arnav understands her condition and moves to her side. He spreads his arms around her and embraces her to him. He feels her sobbing and tightens his hug.
Khushi finally leans her head on his chest and cries her heart out till the last tear drop. Arnav doesn't try to stop her because it is best for her to lighten her heart as he knows she is missing the time she has forgotten and silently supports her all the time. Khushi remains in his embrace as she finds it really comforting and falls asleep in his secure hands.
**
Edited by MoumitaGhose - 11 years ago
Cricket
CID
Hindi TV Shows
10