Chapter 4
Arnav stood at the school gates dressed in his uniform, looking all tired and exhausted, unless of course, you look at his eyes, which were spitting fire at a certain Khushi Kumari Gupta, who, tears flowing, was trying to fight them. "I hate you' I hate you Khushi'. Never in my life I thought you would break my trust like this' I am disgusted with myself for ever loving you.." He said with tears brimming his eyes and walked away, leaving a distraught Khushi.
Khushi woke up with a start feeling her throat go dry.
Arnav woke up to the noise of something falling on the ground. Realizing what it might be, he rushed to the next room and saw Khushi, trying to reach the water bottle in the process, she had knocked down the metal flower vase. He sat on the bed next to her and handed her the glass of water, she still looked drowsy. "Tum theek ho?" he asked softly and she bent forward and rested her head on his shoulder, holding his arm. Involuntarily, he hugged her with the other hand and closed his eyes, feeling her her touch, her fragrance, her aura after years he felt a sense of peace within him. After a few moments, he realized that she had dozed off. Tucking her back in the bed, he pulled the recliner in the room next to her bed and relaxed.
As challenged by Samy, Arnav reached the far end of the library to witness Samy's back what he saw further, blew off his senses - Khushi leaning on the wall, clutching Samy's shirt and Samy kissed her." Arnav closed his eyes and hid himself to hear Samy ask her "Won't you thank me for this?" Khushi's reply pushed him further in the deep hollow "That was nothing to thank for"
"So, Arnav, did you see for yourself how she walked away without even batting her eyelids even after I kissed her. You still think she is as innocent as she shows herself to be?" Sammy flashed a big smile to Arnav only to see a disgusted Arnav walk away furiously. Samy sighed Arnav had to face it, Khushi loved only Samy.
Arnav started shifting restlessly in the recliner.
Arnav was ready with his bag for the night out camp he was going to use the opportunity to propose Khushi. He loved her and he knew that she loved him only. The group was small 8 boys and 3 girls the only ones to opt for the study tour for botany. Mr. & Mrs. Sharma, the teachers accompanied them. It was not possible to talk to the girls in the bus. So, Arnav decided to wait till they reach the destination. He was glad that Samy was not a part of the group. It was not until dinner time that he could talk to Khushi. "Khushi, I want to talk to you. I will come to your tent later in the night. Please wait for me" he whispered while serving himself. She smiled and nodded. It was a long wait the girls had retired to their tents long back strangely - citing sleepiness but the boys kept up chatting for a while. Sheetal and Maya picked up the adjacent beds one side of the tent and Khushi had no option but to lie down on the single bed at the far end of the tent. She waited for Arnav with her heart beating erratically but fell asleep soon.
Arnav reached the girls tent to find a male shadow. He halted in his tracks and slowly peeped inside the tent. What he saw boiled his blood in anger Samy was there with Khushi, in her bed, shirtless and she was hugging him. He could see Samy's naked back and Khushi's hands on them adorned with the red bangles that he had gifted her. He turned back and strode up to his tent, spending the entire night burning in grief. The next morning, Khushi seemed to steal glances at him which angered him further. They reached the school and Khushi came forward to him. "Arnav, you wanted to talk to me?"
Arnav looked at her disgusted feeling how dumb she thought he was and said, "Talk to you? Why? People are right - You are just like your mom - a gold digger. I hate you' I hate you Khushi'. Never in my life I thought you would break my trust like this' I am disgusted with myself for ever loving you.."
Arnav snapped his eyes open. He checked his watch it was 6 am. He quietly walked to his room and closed the door. He remembered the look in Khushi's eyes when she almost hugged him in the early hours of morning. Her eyes had a longing, pleading look. He shrugged off the thoughts and went ahead to shower.
An hour later, Anjali came to his room and informed him that Payal was fine and had gone to Preeto's house with Aakash to get her and Khushi's clothes. The main re-union programme was today evening from 5 pm and Anjali had asked them to stay over tonight as well since the sisters had a early morning bus the next day. Arnav groaned, "Di, you love to host people, don't you? I think I better open a hotel for you." Smiling pleasantly, she said, "I would just check on Khushiji. Did you see her today morning?" Arnav stared at her blankly and then said no. Both the siblings went to see Khushi sleeping peacefully. She looked like an angel Arnav was so lost in her that he did not hear Anjali going. Just then Khushi turned in her sleep and the foot hurt. She winced in pain and woke up. Sitting on the bed, the first sight she saw was Arnav Singh Raizada, dressed in jeans and a blue t-shirt, freshly showered, looking at her.
"Your phone was ringing" he said and handed her the phone. Her eyes widened seeing the calls and the message, "Hey Devi Maiyya" she exclaimed in panic. She looked up to Arnav eyeing her curiously. "how is Jiji?" she asked to divert his attention. Arnav later helped her to get to the washroom and once she was fresh and done, helped her till the bed. The doctor had checked the wound and adviced rest for the next 3-4 days no movement unless absolutely necessary.
It was decided that Aakash and Payal go for the reunion and because Anjali had to go being one of the sponsors, Arnav would stay back with Khushi. The day passed peacefully and Khushi slept throughout due to the medicines the glass pieces were not so serious, but the fact that her foot had deeper cuts due to the metal tray and the knives that fell along made it worse.
After everyone left, Arnav came to Khushi. "Are you feeling better?" he asked. She just nodded and signaled the washroom. He helped her and was waiting for her to come back when he saw Aakash calling on Khushi's cell. He picked up the call and before he could say anything, he heard a panicked Payal on the other end, "Khushi, where have you been.. please please don't even be seen outside. I know you won't but still. Shyam was here for a while and was seeing if you were here. He still does not know that you stay with me and buaji. So, he is following Ishan Khushi, call up Ishan as soon as possible.. are you listening?" there was a long pause. Arnav did not know what to say, "Khushi, don't worry. Everything will be alright. But, today, I feel it is high time you tell the truth to Arnav. He deserves to know it. I thought he would have moved on in life but, no Khushi, just like you, he too is still clinging on to your memories. I have heard you calling him out every night in your sleep Khushi, now, call him out in real. Please Khushi, no one else can save you from that b*****d Shyam." Payal sobbed and hung up.
Khushi opened the washroom door to see Arnav sitting on the bed, looking at her "Who is Ishan?"
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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