IPKKND:The misconstrued C4 Pg31 09/06/14 CONCLUDE writers response p37 - Page 7

When will you update next chapter ?

Originally posted by: MDTharun

When will you update next chapter ?

Chapter 2

The family had together managed to avoid telling Anjali about ASR's leave for some time now the family had put together a white lie,ASR was supposedly on a business trip'. Anjali did pick up on the strange feeling the family gave when telling her this but she thought nothing of it. Not when the likes of elders such as nani and maami backed this up, she had no reason to question yet Khushi she did notice. She seemed tense, not wanting to intrude on her privacy Anjali thought it better not to ask directly rather let it be. Khushi didn't like lying one bit, it wasn't her thing, she struggled to lie about superficial things never mind something like this but they were in it together, this lie belonged to as much the others as it did to her but it still wasn't right and it was going to haunt that she was aware of.

At this point she still couldn't really take in the fact that he had actually gone, just left them and he didn't even have any words for before leaving, and that seemed to irritate her even more. First his implication that she wasn't doing a good enough job with her catering service and now this! She was annoyed, even if they were wrong to have spoken of him the way they did he couldn't just up and leave like that!!

This never happened, ever and so for Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada this was a hell of a lot to digest. Walking up the stairs after deciding amongst the family that this was the right thing to do for now..Khushi had spent most of the day mulling over what had occurred during the course of last night and this morning. Drastic was the word that came to mind, "He'll be back in a day or two!! , we didn't ask him to leave he went on his own accord, We weren't wrong to express how we feel!" All kinds of things were thrown around and some of them expressed by herself to but there was an underlining guilt Khushi could feel amongst those involved in this. She felt it too but like others she didn't want to admit it or rather pride got in the way. The pride that would prove she could carry on just fine without him.

If you thought too much it made your head hurt was the moral of today for Khushi she just wanted to stop. Stop thinking about this and like the rest of the family had insisted she was going to sleep on it. He'd be back in a day or so and things would blow over. Entering their room, Khushi was instantly disturbed by the unfamiliar silence. She expected the strong scent of that coffee of his to infuse her senses the, his voice converging in business talk or at the very least the tapping of his fingertips as he typed on his laptop. His feel was missing from the room and that hit Khushi quite unexpectedly, it bought to life the fact that he wasn't absent. Just like that, he had gone. Apart of her knew it would only be a few days, ASR did as he seemed fit, he was his own man yet it would be a lie to say she wasn't a little hurt by the way he had up and gone. Everything they had been through and leaving was never on the cards. He didn't even talk it over with her? He was impulsive and she was too proud to back down at the time.

She was thinking again but as soon as she made that acknowledgement and tried to stop her eyes took note of a white envelope placed on the side table. In his handwriting it read her name. Just that alone seemed to fill her with a warm feeling.

Opening it Khushi pulled out a letter addressed to her just a few lines. "This doesn't mean I love you any less Khushi.. I just... need a little time." The sentiments in that one line were much greater than the words on the page whether Khushi understood them at this moment in time was a different matter. On the back of letter was a telephone number.

..

This didn't make it go away, he had still left her, without speaking to her.. just up and left, even though they we're wrong to react the way they had, did he have to leave?

Naani who looked at her selection of medications couldn't help but think of Arnav who normally visited her room before bed to help her with them. Maami missed those footsteps in the corridor and the way her nephew would wish her goodnight every evening without fail whilst walking past her room.

Aaakaash didn't get that last text message the reminder of tomorrows meeting his brother would send him at night. - It was the little things that made the difference.

They could manage without him of course they could! . A new day at Raizada house and a very different one to which the family was accustomed too. The chair at the head of the table was vacant, even though it wasn't a custom it kind of was, no one sat on that chair apart from ASR and today seeing it empty was one of those things that haunted those who had part taken in rivaling against him.

Khushi had woken up earlier than normal, and was busy making a to do list at her seat on the table. She was going to help Aaakash look after AR whilst taking up all other responsibilities ASR usually looked after. Her list was a long agenda of meetings, family errands and odd jobs and then her catering service which Maami had volunteered to look after for some time. Anjali watched Khushi animatedly scribble on the piece of paper. The list was long. "Khushiji, Arnav kab lotenge??" (When is Arnav coming home Khushji? )

"di woh.. pata nahin.. Unone kaha nahin." (er ..not sure di he didn't say.) Khushi didn't like lying and technically it wasn't a lie he hadn't said when he was going to be back but eyes of the rest of the family who urged Khushi to come up with a good answer made her feel all that more nervous. Anjali noticed something uneasy on Khushi's face but didn't think much of it and took her response lightly. She did take it as unusual though ASR always made sure someone knew of his schedule when he was away. He left a copy of his travel itinerary and number but maybe he had just forgotten.

...

It was a long day, after dropping Aarav to school Khushi sat through an array of meetings with Aaakaaah. First It was just a case of catching up on to what was going on in the business of course Khushi had worked their previously but it had been some time ago now. Aaakaash was primarily in charge and he knew what he was doing but he needed the extra help and Khushi was there to provide it. Her joint approval on some things was also required as ASR had put them both in charge. This was important to Aaakash for he wanted show that he had the potential to run their business on his own but it slowly started coming to light very early on that it was going to be difficult without ASR. Not that Aakaash wasn't good at his job he was.. it was just that ASR was ASR, he had contacts, a reputation and experience which was important.

Day one was bound to run a little shakily and it had done, there was a slight uneasiness in the air to start with, maybe regret at the situation they had got them selfs into but also pride. They were going to fight this battle alright even If a lot of things in the office reminded them respectively of the brother and husband who was missing due to them.

...

Visiting the chemist for Naani prescriptions, checking on Shulka ji and Maami at the catering service, running various work related errands, and staying back late to help Aaakaash on an important project proposal Khushi was finally home late evening.

What a day it had been and it was only day one. Her bones ached, her head hurt going through all those meetings not to mention the quality of the food in the canteen, the traffic on the way home just everything. She was shattered.

A glass of water right now would have been just perfect but there was nobody around. Crashing on the sofa, Felt like heaven but as soon as she did just that Hp had something for her, A stash of letters addressed to the householder and as she looked up from them Aaarav stood before her with his homework.

...

The next few days ran there course, each day was a challenge within its self for each one of the Raizadas who were living without ASR. They got by but it was coming to the end of a second week and each one of them especially Khushi was tired. Things weren't as smooth as they would be in his presence, there was a sense of stress in the air at the secret they were keeping from Anjali who was bound to get doubtful sooner or later. Another night without him and Khushi looked into the vacant space next to her in bed and turned away to stop herself from overwhelm that she gradually began to feel as the days went on.

...

Each day felt like a long struggle, but they had made there way into the third week without him and usually time meant improvement but not in this case. Day one of week three and just when the family thought they were getting the hang of things maybe struggling but getting along non the less the boiling point had come.

Aaakash and Khushi had left early for work, it was a day before the deadline and they were prepared. Just the last few hours on this proposal and they were done. Of course they wanted it to be perfect, read, re-read and edit over and over again. A lot of time and effort was going into it.

Meanwhile back at Raizada house things weren't as good, Nani had complained of feeling unwell all morning and eventually collapsed, Anjali had called for a doctor who was on his way, but it wasn't long before more misfortune struck and Raizada house was thrown into darkness, the lights and electric seemed to have failed.

Whilst everything seemed to go haywire for the household, Aakash and Khushi go on a coffee break, at AR head quarters, the majority of the work was done and they would be able to go home on time today even a little earlier yet as they returned from their break and Aaakash sat down to his laptop, it was clear that his computer had crashed.

...

It was the worst thing ever, from all angles! Khushi and Aaakaash spent an few additional hours post office hours trying to make up for the loss but they gave up in the end they were in no mood to carry on, drained of all hope. It wasn't doing either of them any good. They were just going to have to miss out on this project or try to wing it the next morning. The feeling was horrid, even worse than horrid knowing that they had worked so hard and then it had all gone to waste. The drive home was silent neither of them felt like saying much, it was just pure disappointment but something was playing in Aaakash's mind from the moment this incident took place, he just didn't voice it till now.

"Bhai was always on my back for not backing things up, not being careful, always, I thought he was just being the way he is you know, having a go." Khushi could feel the stain in Aaakashs voice, this had hit him hard, he had worked so hard she just wished this hadn't happened.

..

Walking into Raizada house that evening disheartened their faces already glum, both Khushi and Aakaash are taken by surprise when the house is sat in a mix of candle light and darkness. Nani is lying on the sofa with her eyes closed and maami who is fanning her with her saari also looks upset.

Just as Khushi wants to question what was going on an unhappy, correction angry looking Anjali who was fetching a glass of water for Naani explains.

"Ham batate kya hua, dadi ji behosh ho gayi.. kyun ke woh galat daavayay le rahin thi, jis kisene unka prescription pick up kiya unone theekh se check nahin kiya.

Ghar mein light aur electric nahin hai kyun ke bill nahin bhara gayay aur Aaarav." ("I'll tell you what the matter is, Dadi is unwell because she'd been taking the wrong medicine, who ever picked up her prescription clearly didn't check. The light and electricity bill hasn't been paid so we have neither and Aaarav..")

Khushi was the one who picked up Nanis prescription she didn't check, she was responsible, nor had she remembered to pay the bills, she thought maybe someone else had done but when Anjali mentioned Aaarav that's when it struck Khushi, she panicked. "Ham Aarav ko school se pick up ghar na bhool gayey.!!!!" ("I've forgotten to pick Aarav up from school!!")

Just as Khushi realized how much damage her lack of attention had caused and could panic further the lights in Raizada house came back on. Khushi could only listen to what Anjali had to say because in her mind was clouded by everything was going wrong. "Aarav ghar aa chukka hai, School ke bahar khada tha woh dhoop mein use aap pick up karne wali thi naa? ("after waiting under heat for god knows how long Aaarav is home Khushiji but weren't you going to pick him up?!") Aaarav was sat at the dinner table with his homework, Khushi's distress was a little less severe having laid eyes on him but all in all nothing was well and for Anjali it made less sense than for anyone else.

"Yey ho kya raha hai is ghar mein..batayeyga koi muje aur upar se Arnav, woh itne gher zimidar kaise ho sakte hai.. Apne parivaar ka kuch toh khaayal kiya hota unhone.!!'" ("Can someone please tell me what is going on in this house! and to top it off Arnav, he could at least have spared some thought for his family!. ")

Anjali's annoyance at the matter was justified, the family were guilty they had no explanation, what were they to tell her that they had driven him away selfishly, and this was all because he was gone? The mood was cold and regretful. Khushi who could hardly cease her emotions took to her room.

Aakash had lost all hope for his proposal and was equally hurt by the goings on he couldn't even think about work not now. Khushi who walked to her room thought of checking on Aarav after all he must be hating her for leaving him stranded that way but as she approached the room she could hear him talking behind the bedroom door and from the sounds of it was a phone call to his father. Not wanting to interrupt, Khushi's upset only got worse with this she too longed to speak to Arnav. For him to be back for this all to go away. Walking into her room, her mind failing to ease even that little she almost looked for something that would comfort her, something that was his, something that was him. Walking towards his wardrobe sliding open the door Khushi looked at the array of her husbands suits which all gave off a familiar fragrance. A strong aftershave scent that was him his trademark running her hands through the hangings Khushi taking a step back to sit on the bed..couldn't help but let tears that had accumulated the cups of her eyes give way . She wanted nothing more than her husband at this moment in time.

...

Next chapter, "Di hame aapse kuch kehna hai" ("Di there is something I would like to tell you.")