Part 13
Khushi's hurting eyes opened as she heard some voices. Her hand reached to her throbbing forehead and she shifted on the bed. She concentrated on the voice. Sitting on the bed, she looked around to witness only darkness. Her hand reached to the bedside lamp and soon the room glowed in the amber light. Sitting comfortably on the bed, she turned her head to her left side. Concern took over her beautiful face as she saw him moaning in pain. Shifting close to him, she touched his forehead. He was having mild fever. Her eyes landed on the bandage. Little blood had smeared the white bandage. Dripped with worry and guilt, she slide off the bed and entered the bathroom.
Emerging from the bathroom, she sat beside him. Careful not to hurt him, she took the bandage off his forehead slowly and cleaning the blood with the cotton ball, she bandaged his wound. His temperature was still high. Again sliding off the bed, she exited the room on her weak legs.
Entering the kitchen, she took a bowl and searched for some clean napkin. Finding one in the cabinet, she poured the water in the bowl and started towards their room again, her head still hurting, making her vision blurry momentarily. Catching the railing to support her weak legs, she started mounting the stairs.
Anjali was out to fill her empty jug when she saw someone ascending the stairs. She tilted her head to get a clearer view.
"Khushi...?" Anjali looked up at Khushi, confused. "What is she doing here? She was not well and now ..." with confusion written on her face, she again looked at the Khushi, who had finished the stairs and was now walking towards her room.
Anjali kept the jug on the dining table and followed Khushi.
Anjali stopped as she stood in front of Arnav's door. The door was slightly open, but she contemplated on whether she should peek inside or not. As the curiosity got better of her, she pushed the door slightly and peeked inside.
And what she saw melted something inside her chest.
Khushi sat near Arnav's head, her hand busy placing the damp cloth on his forehead. She had dragged his hand on her lap and was rubbing his palm with one hand as she changed the cloth with other. Her pale face glowed in the amber light, showing her concerned face.
Biting back the tears that suddenly hit her eyes, she pushed the door open and entered inside.
"Khushi?"
Khushi lifted her head to look at Anjali Di.
"Anjali Di, ... Arnav ji's temperature is little high. Nothing to worry ... I think it's because of the wound. He will be fine..." Khushi said in a small voice, she herself was feeling little weak.
Anjali just nodded her head, not knowing what to say. She thought Khushi will be angry on her or will act different. But she was here, taking care of Arnav and talking with her as if nothing happened. The guilt that was meandering after seeing her panicked because of her, overwhelmed her again. Just an hour ago, she was accusing her of not worrying about Arnav, not taking care of him and now she sat in front of her eyes, tending her brother like a loving mother.
Walking towards the bed, she sat beside Khushi.
"Anjali Di, you go. I will take care of him. His temperature is fine now. " Khushi said, again dipping the cloth in bowl and placing it against his forehead.
"Khushi ... I ... I mean ... I am sorry for earlier ... For jumping the gun on you ... I should have not done that .." Anjali apologized, feeling guiltier than ever.
Khushi looked at Arnav ji's sleeping form, a soft sigh left her mouth.
"I don't feel anything now ..."
The broken tone in her voice made Anjali look at her.
"I ...It's just that I can't take false accusations and shouting ... I try ... I try very hard to not succumb to the fear ...to that demon who overpowers me everytime... But it's ... it's like impossible... I am sorry ... You were right ... but ... I ... I don't want to hurt anyone ... I don't like hurting anyone ... " Khushi said as her glassy eyes remained fixed on the white mattress.
Anjali shifted close to her and kept her hand on her shoulder.
"I am sorry Khushi. Even if you were wrong I had no right to shout at you, I should have talked it out with Arnav. I am sorry ..."
"It's ok ..." Khushi smiled, which didn't reached her eyes.
Anjali looked at Arnav.
"Khushi, you sleep, I will take care of him. "
"No...It's ok ... He is fine now... You go .."
"Are you sure?" Anjali asked.
Khushi nodded her head.
Getting off the bed, Anjali exited the room, mentally making a note to talk to her brother regarding Khushi.
Arnav opened his eyes, feeling the eyelids too heavy. Rubbing his fingers over his eyes, he opened his eyes and sat on the bed. And as he sat, something fell on his lap. He looked on his lap and picked the cloth. He touched his forehead, which was little damp. His eyes darted towards the sleeping figure of Khushi. She was facing him, her one hand extended towards him. He looked at the bowl on her side of the table. His lips stretched into a smile. She is still the same Khushi, caring, loving, giving. Always concerned about others, no matter what she is going through.
Arnav again laid on the bed and probed on his elbow, staring at her innocent face. She is still the same, just little quiet now. She is mad at him, he knows that. But he knows she will forgive him and be his former Khushi, the same one who loved him, who, no matter how beastly he behaved with her, she was always there like an innocent princess to calm him down.
He looked at her eyes, the dark patches very much visible. His expression turned distraught. He had always hurt her and still expected her to stay with him. Why he always hurt her? He loves her, why can't he give her only love? Just like she had given him. The same love he wanted to possess, to treasure, to always keep with him. But he butchered everything with his own hands. He didn't trusted her that day, and lost her forever. And now when she is with him, still the feeling of having her close to him was not there, it was like she is still so far, so unreachable. She had developed a cocoon around her and he is desperately and helplessly clawing at that hard cocoon to break through it but that hard cocoon denies to budge. Because she doesn't want to. She wants to remain inside that cocoon.
He caught her hand in his. So soft, so warm. She was always this fragile, so tiny in front of his large frame, so vulnerable. And still he can't stop himself from hurting her. She is right. He is a beast. Not meant for love.
But he has her now. He wants to give her all the happiness. Cherish her, love her, fulfill her every wish and never hurt her again.
Khushi stirred in her sleep and Arnav left her hand and got off the bed, not wanting to worry her. Covering her properly with the quilt, he took a towel and entered the bathroom.
Aryan tiptoed in the room and looked at the bed, his precious thing tightly clutched in his hand. He looked at his beautiful doll sleeping on the bed and mentally made a note to take her pic and show that annoying, arrogant girl that he has a real doll.
He crawled on the bed and sat beside Khushi.
"Mami.." Aryan called in his cheerful voice. Seeing her not opening her eyes, his hand reached on her shoulder to shake her. "Mami..."
Khushi blinked her eyes and adjusted her sight to the bright light. She looked in front of her and a small smile paved its way to her lips.
"Aryan.." Khushi dragged herself in a sitting position. "What happened?"
Aryan forwarded his tiny hand.
Khushi looked at his hand.
"Chocolate. Mommy gives me one chocolate everyday. Mommy told there's a baby inside your stomach. So I am here to share my chocolate with him" Aryan smiled his innocent smile.
Khushi looked at the wrapped chocolate in his hand , touched by his gesture.
"How do I feed him?"
Khushi giggled.
"Give baby's share , I will feed him" khushi extended her hand.
Aryan smiled at her and started unwrapping his chocolate. Breaking the chocolate in equal two, he extended one half towards her.
"Take it ..."
Khushi extended her hand and took the chocolate.
"Hawww... You are cheating." Aryan's hand fled to his mouth.
Khushi again giggled.
"The baby eats what I eat. If you want the baby to eat it, I will have to eat this chocolate."
"Really?" he looked at her, amused.
Khushi nodded her head and took a bite.
"You like it? It's my favorite chocolate." Aryan said munching on his chocolate.
"It's delicious." Khushi replied , munching on her share.
Aryan peeked at her and decided to ask the question he wanted to ask her from yesterday.
"Why don't you come out of your room?" Aryan asked.
But before he can get the answer from the one it was directed towards, he heard the third voice.
"Because she don't wish to see cartoons like you"
Aryan's face cringed in displeasure as he looked at his Mamu.
"Who is talking to you? I was talking with Mami.."
"Whatever ..." throwing the towel on the recliner, he made his way towards his wardrobe.
Khushi looked at Aryan, who was glaring at his Mama angrily.
"Aryan, I am going to take bath..." Khushi informed Aryan and got off the bed.
Aryan's glare still remained fixed on his Mamu and it remained the same as his Mamu towered over him.
"What?" Arnav asked looking down at his nephew.
"Why you always shout?" Aryan stood on the bed, still glaring at his Mamu.
"I don't shout always.." Arnav countered.
"You do. Don't shout at Mami otherwise you will scare the baby."
"I don't shout at her.."
"Why?"
"Because I love her.."
"Then why do you shout at me?"
"Because I don't love you.." Arnav shrugged his shoulder and removed his T, and took his shirt.
"You are so mean.." Aryan accused.
"Get lost. Don't eat my head.." Arnav replied as he buttoned his shirt.
"You are meany meany meany meany meany ... I will tell to Mommy..." jumping off the bed, he ran outside the room.
"Complaint box!" shaking his head, Arnav concentrated on the task at hand.
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Edited by shona_arhilover - 11 years ago
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