Key to your heart
A big big thank you to Siva Sakti...aka siva2901 for the wonderfully Arshilicous banner...thank u dear...xoxo..
Another big thank you for each and every reader of this FF attempt...each and every comment motivates me...so please like and leave your comment...it will help my FF get more views as well...Spread the word if you like this FF..will update next chapter soon...tc
Please note that text in blue and italics is for what the respective characters are thinking..but not saying out loud...
Chapter 5
The first thing that Khushi noticed when she woke up was the lady clad in a bright saree..dozing off in a chair nearby...she was sure she had seen her somewhere before...but could not remember from.where...Khushi shuffled around trying to move the blanket and get up...the sounds brought out Anjali from her nap..
"Are khushiji..aap utt gaye.."("Khushiji you are awake...")...
"Huh..."responded Khushi, unsure about how to respond to a complete stranger who was talking very sweetly to her.."main..yahaan..kaise.." (me...how did i reach..this place...)
"Khushiji..khabrayiye math...aapko Chotte ne yahan laya tha..aap sedation mein thi na..issi liye apko yaad nahin aa rahi hai..."
("Dont be worried Khushi...Chotte was the one who brought you here..You are not able to recall that cos you were under sedation..")..
Khushi was puzzled and thought..Chotte..yeh kaun hai..."(who is this chotte that she is referring to)...
By then Anjali had arranged the dinner tray and was urging Khushi to have some food...she obliged..The lady introduced herself as Anjali and pacified Khushi that her family has been informed that she will be spending the night at Anjali's place..as that was what the doctor had advised...
All through the dinner, Anjali was explaining how a concerned Chotte had taken Khushi to a doctor at breakneck speed and had making sure she got immediate medical attention..
Khushi' s heart was filled with gratitude for "Chotte"...whoever he was...She felt it would be too blunt to ask Anjali who this person actually was after she had described everything in length..She felt gratitude towards Chotte and wanted to thank him in person...
The image that she had conjured up in her mind was that of a teenage younger brother of Anjali's..who was an excellent driver..She asked Anjali if she could thank her brother in person...Anjali got up and took her to poolside entrance of the guestroom..
"Khushiji...do you see the room at the other side of the pool..that is Chotte's room"..
She was about to lead Khushi to that room when Mamiji called out from the balcony asking Anjali to come to the drawing room as
Shyam had arrived...Anjali excused herself and left Khushi alone in her short walk to the other side of the pool.. Khushi saw that the room was dimly lit..She could see a laptop with its screen shining brightly..on a recliner near to the huge french windows nearby the pool...She saw a figure walk out through the doors and pick a gardening tool nearby the doors..The person had his back turned towards her..as he was busy inspecting the orchid plants..Yeh hoga Anjaliji ka Chotte bhai.("this person must be Anjali's brother Chotte")..
Khushi concluded...She walked closer and said "Chotteji...aapka bahuth shukriya ki aapne humein doctor ke pass leke gaya..Anjaliji ne bathaya ki aap kaise tez..." ("chotteji...thank you so much...Anjali has told me how fast you drove to take me to the doctor...")
Her voice trailed off as she saw the person turn and reply in an authoritative tone..."I am not your Chotte, Ms Khushi Kumari Gupta..I am your boss..Call me ASR"...
Khushi took a step back and unknowingly dislodged an orchid pot..it fell with a crashing sound...spreading pieces of earthenware and mud...a feeling of deja vu enveloped her...she was taken back to earlier in the day..when she had felt the brick and mud debris falling on her from the building..the thoughts made her light-headed...
She swayed a bit and almost fell into the pool...but Arnav had sensed something was wrong and quickly held her with his left hand...which left her slanting over the pool..in a semiconscious state...(rabba ve...)
Arnav slowly pulled her to him and her body fell on him in one fluid motion...he could feel her soft cheeks pressed onto his chest..Khushi..still reeling from the thoughts of the mishap at the site earlier on that day, glanced upwards..to meet his eyes...
Arnav saw her eyes brimming with tears..A single tear drop escaped her left eye...Arnav moved his right hand to slowly dab that tear away...Her eyes widened with surprise at this gesture..Arnav too was gazing intently at her...He aked her in a husky voice.."Khushi...tum teek ho..?"("Khushi..are you alright..?)
Just then they heard Anjali call out for Khushi...Khushi untangled her fingers from Arnav's...She quickly retraced her steps and ran through the poolside..towards the guest room door..She turned back when she reached there and saw that Arnav was still standing there...
Arnav could not sleep that night..All he could think was that Khushi was in the next room...He was moved by her vulnerable state..Heknew that it would be some time before she recovered fully from the shock of the incident..His heart was filled with an urge to protect her..keep her safe..a feeling he had never felt earlier for any girl..besides Anjali Di..Deep in his thoughts, Arnav slowly slipped into his sleep...
Khushi was dropped at her home when Naaniji and Manorama mami had left for temple early morning...Khushi was told by Naaniji that she can take a few days leave and that Arnav will be informed...
Arnav had difficulty spending time at the office...He would find himself glancing towards the cabin...looking at the empty chair...He realized he was missing her..But he did not know why...It had been the second day since she was on leave...He had received an email earlier informing that she will rejoin tomorrow..But he could not wait that long..He took his coat and keys and headed towards the door...
Khushi was busy playing blindfold with the kids in the neighborhood...She had recovered fully and was back in her spirits..She was enjoying her time off...She was good friends with all the kids in the neighborhood...though they were all much younger to her...She was trying to catch hold of the kids while blindfolded...
Suddenly she got hold of a kid..or was it..she wondered..She realized that she had actually grabbed onto someone's arm...She moved her hand across the chest and grappled the face..She felt a stubble...Fearing the worst..she slightly lowered the blindfold and looked at the person in front of her...
An amused ASR looked straight at her with a smirk and asked.."Miss Khushi Kumari Gupta...I can see that ab tum bilkul teek ho" ("I can see that you are all right now")
P.S: Anjali seems familiar to Khushi because Khushi had seen her photo on Arnav's office desk..It is the same one which had the diamond beads wala photo frame..
My dear readers...please check if the like and post reply buttons are working..😉
Edited by Aish002 - 11 years ago
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