Arshi FF: Heartbeats part 7 updated 21.10.15 - Page 4

It was a hectic day for him. Going to home, seeing her cry/sad, and again sleeping in the hard couch was a daily routine for him nowadays. He used to keep himself busy with his works. He used to wake up at 6, leave to office by 7 and come home at 9. He had a busy schedule. Sometimes he would spend a little bit of his time with Lavanya. Today he was seriously not in a mood to look at her sad or sullen face, which makes him even sadder. He decided to meet Lavanya.

At 9.00pm, in a cafeteria,

Lavanya was sipping her juice, whereas Arnav had ordered a sandwich.

Lavanya: So how is life?

Arnav rolled his eyes, meaning that she knew it very well, how well his life was!!!

Arnav: Tumhara mood kyun off hai?(Why is your mood off?)

Lavanya: Chamkili!!! Pata nahi woh mujhe kitna shraap de rahi hogi. (I don't know how much she might cursing me.) Thank you ASR.

Arnav: Ab usne kya kiya? (Now what did she do?)

Lavanya: She was glaring at me. You know what ASR, meri sirf ek achchi dost thi, aur tumhari wajah se woh dosti bhi nahi rahi. I mean she hates me so much now. Kya yeh sab karna zaruri hai?

Arnav shut his eyes and took a deep breathe.

Arnav: Lavanya please don't start again. Tumhe reason achchi tarah se pata hai na? (You know the reason very well right?) I have come here to get some peace of mind, so will you please change the topic?

Lavanya sighed.

Lavanya: You have lost the peace of mind because of yourself.

Finally he decided to change the topic.

Arnav: How is Doctor?

Arnav didn't fail to notice that Lavanya was blushing. Her phone started ringing and he didn't miss to notice her happiness while speaking to that person.

His life was completely messed up, but he wished that atleast his friend's life would be good.

**************

He was late while reaching home. Khushi surely knew that he was with Lavanya. Nowadays she had improved. She didn't let herself to be sad. She tried to smile, be happy with whatever she had in her life right now.

She fiddled with the blanket, turning to her right and left. She could feel someone nearing the bed. She slowly opened her eyes, and saw him coming towards the bed. So today he was sleeping on the bed? She was surprised and somehow happy, but her happiness faded when she saw his hand nearing the AC remote and he went away, towards his couch.

"How stupid of me?" she thought.

She wished her days to be like before, when he used to hug her and sleep. But now, he didn't even wish to share the same bed with her. There was so much of difference between past and present.

She closed her eyes, and she could see a happy Arnav and Khushi behind those eyes.

I wish everything was like before, she murmured before going to sleep.

****************

Flashback:

Khushi and Rakesh had now become very close friends. Rakesh, after returning to India had been to Laxminagar to visit Shashi and Garima. He had also come to RM regarding the new project with AR.

Arnav and Rakesh were discussing about the project. Khushi bought two glasses filled with juice to serve to Arnav and Rakhy.

Khushi: Time for break.

Arnav: Khushi bas thoda sa kaam hai. (Khushi there is just a little bit of work)

Khushi: Aap dono theen ghante se kaam hi toh kar rahe ho. (You people are working from three hours)

Before Arnav could say something, she added,

Khushi: Aur aapki wajah se yeh bechara kitna thak gaya. (And bcoz of you see how tired this poor man is)

She started her drama.

Arnav: Toh tum karna kya chahti ho? (So what do you what to do?)

Khushi: Baate!!(Chat)

He sighed. Khushi sat beside Rakesh and started chatting. They laughed, hi fived their hands, teased each other. Arnav felt like a third person. She wasn't paying any attention towards Arnav. He could feel a sort of anger, jealousy in him, when his wife started paying more attention to somebody else than him. For almost an hour, they chatted and whenever Arnav tried to interfere, he was cut off.

Rakesh: Tintin tume woh yaad hai...

Arnav cut him in middle.

Arnav(slightly angry): I think we can start working.

Khushi showed her puppy face to Arnav.

Wow!! You all don't involve me in you talks and you want me to allow you chat for hours? And you damn Rakhy!!! Tintin, tintin, tintin!!! To hell with this word, he thought.

He gritted his teeth. He was envied and enraged.

Arnav: Khushi ander jaao. (Khushi go in)

Khushi didn't want to.

Arnav(sternly): I said NOW!!

The whole family looked at him. She felt embarrassed in front of everyone.

She was slightly scared, and not wanting to disobey him, she went inside murmuring Laad Governor.

How rude of Arnavji!!!

After they finished their work, Khushi came down again. His anger had mellowed down. But she was angry. How could he shout at her in front of all?

Rakesh knew that Khushi's mood was off.

Rakesh: Khushi, shall we play shuttle?

Khushi: Arnavji se pooch lo. (Ask Arnavji)

Arnav knew that she was pissed off with his abnormal behaviour.

Arnav: Her wish. By the way what's shuttle?

Rakesh was confused. He seriously didn't know that Arnav doesnt know what shuttle is? He could see Anjali and Nani chuckling and controlling their laugh.

Anjali: Chotte tumhe shuttle nahi pata? (Chotte don't you know shuttle?)

Khushi: Di unhe sadhaaran bhaasha samaj nahi aata. (Di he doesn't understand common language)

Arnav: What the!!

Khushi: Shuttle yaani BADMINTON!!

Oh now he got to know. But did Khushi know to play?

Arnav(whispered): Tumhe khelna aata hai? (You know to play?)

Khushi's jaw dropped. He was purposely teasing her.

Khushi put her hands on hips. She agrees that she didn't know chess or basket ball, but she knew badminton very well.

Khushi: Mr Raizada vs Mrs Raizada. Deal?

She put her hand forward; he shook it agreeing for the deal.

Khushi, Payal and Mamiji were one team, Arnav, Aakash and Rakesh another team. She glared throught at Arnav. He looked hot in that t shirt but she wasn't noticing that much.

As the cock flew in air, she hit it hard gaining a point for her team. Whenever the cock came to the boys side, Rakesh hit it, without allowing anyone else to hit. This angered Arnav a lot. The whole match was like only Khushi and Rakhy were playing. Mami, Payal, Aakash were tired playing, so they came out of the court. This time Arnav took the cock, and hit it towards her. Anger was truly visible on his face. Khushi could make out that, when he hit the cock harder everytime when she passed him the cock. It was a hard match. Khushi vs Arnav. None of them let the cock fall on the ground, each and everytime they hit it harder and harder. Arnav was putting all his frustration, jealousy and anger on the cock. As if the cock was Rakesh. The condition of the cock was worth watching. For almost fifteen minutes the cock flew in air. The men cheered Arnav, whereas the ladies for Khushi.

It was going to continue like this, but then Arnav winked at Khushi, diverting her attention. Naughty Arnav!! But Khushi knew all these tricks very well and she inturn winked at him, hitting the cock harder. The cock fell in Arnav's court hitting Rakesh's head. Boys lost it!! But Arnav was happy, not bcoz she won the match, but looking at the cock which fell on Rakesh's head. Arnav chuckled.

Rakesh: Tintin!! He complained. Arnav glared at Rakesh.

Dare you say that again thought Arnav.

Khushi burst out laughing.

Khushi: Sorry.. yet she didn't stop laughing. It irked Arnav when Rakesh was the reason behind that laugh.

Arnav went to Khushi, "I didn't know you play so well".

Khushi: That is because you never want to think that your wife can be better than you.

Arnav caught her hand, "I never said that"

Khushi: Forget it Arnavji.

But the fight ended soon when he kissed her cheek and whispered a sorry. This was noticed by Rakhy. He was jealous.

Flashback ends.

******************

Next day morning,

Khushi was getting ready. Today she wore a saree, not salwar. She had to go out. She wore her bangles and marched down. She sat at the dining table to have her breakfast. Her eyes were searching for him. Anjali looked at her and she understood what Khushi was searching for.

Anjali: Khushiji chotte Nainital gaye hai. (Khushiji chotte has been to Nainital)

Khushi was surprised. He didn't even inform her. Why would he? He had not even informed her that he was going to London. And that one month in London had caused so much of trouble for her.

She ignored thinking about that and continued to have her breakfast.

After having her bf she picked her wallet.

Khushi: Naniji hum aashram hokar aate hai. (Naniji I will go to Aashram)

Nani: Theek hai bitiya, shaam se pehle ghar aajayiye. (Ok Bitiya, return before its evening)

Khushi agreed. She had a lot of work today. Firstly, to collect some gifts for the kids and then to spend some time with them. She stepped out of RM.

*************

It was almost about five o clock. Arnav was speaking to Aman in his bluetooth. Due to too much of traffic, he had to choose this less crowded area to go to his farmhouse. He had lied in his home that he was going to Nainital, bcoz he just wanted to avoid his wife. So from morning, he was in Aman's house and right now he was going to his farmhouse. His car speeded in the road and it was raining heavily.

Hey wait, he felt like he saw somebody familiar near that tree. He reversed his car in full speed. Without hurrying much he got down from his car. It was thundering, and lightening. He ran towards her. She was lying almost lifeless. For once his heart stopped beating.

He sat beside her and patted her cheek murmuring, "Khushi".He checked her pulse and got relieved that she had just fainted. Since it was a less crowded area nobody saw her. But what the hell was she doing here. Looking at the empty bags he realised that it was 15^th. Every 15^th day of the month she would go to orphanage to meet the kids. But this crazy woman never listened to him. She never took the car and always came by auto or bus. This place was two hours from their home. He understood that she had failed to catch an auto, and so she had to walk a few distance from orphanage. This place was half an hour from walk from the orphanage.

Damn it he scolded her.

Most probably due to the rain she had sat under this tree, might be for an hour or more and then fainted here.

He kept his palm on her forehead. She was burning with fever. He covered her with his jacket. He lifted her in his arms and placed her in the front seat. He sat inside the car and when he started it didn't start. He cursed his car under his breathe.

Isse bhi abhi kharab hone tha? He didn't know why nature was testing his patience.

He came out of his car and kicked it.He called Aman to send him a car. In this rain he could not repair his car. He looked around his surrounding. It was almost like a jungle. He saw a small hut over there. He carried her in his arms and took her inside the hut. Each and every time he checked her, her temp was increasing. He was afraid to lose her. He collected some woods and set it into fire. He made her sleep in his lap, near the fire. He waited for ten more minutes, but still she wasn't recovering. She was too dear for him.

Arnav: Khushi utho. (Khushi get up).

He patted her cheeks.She didn't make any movement. He then threw his arms on her.

You cannot scare me like this, he said. He feared if her temp doesn't decrease. What if she doesn't get up? His eyes were moist. He hugged her more tightly.

Khushi wake up, its not funny, its my order.

Then finally, he kept her hand on his heart. His hug became tighter again. This moment was an intense one. She could feel him.

I don't want to lose you Khushi, make some movement atleast.

Jaan!! He murmured again.

She shook her hand. He noticed it. It was like he regained his life back. Tears rolled down his cheek. He kissed her hair. She had scared him to death. She was sitting in his lap. She couldn't open her eyes. He kissed her palm. She started to sweat a bit, due to the hug. He sighed. He heard the horn. It was Aman.

**************

She opened her eyes in the clinic. She looked at the person next to her. It was Aman.

Khushi: Where is Arnavji?

Aman: ASR Nainital mein hai. (ASR is in Nainital)

She was very weak to speak yet she managed.

Khushi: Nahi woh yahi hai, I could feel him.

Aman: I am not lying ma'am. I saw you under that tree and brought you here.

He was instructed to say this. Khushi sighed in disappointment but her heart felt that it was Arnav who saved her. She could feel his hug that time but she had no proof. She herself was in a dilemma.

Aman: Mai aapko ghar chod dunga. (I will drop you home)

She agreed. Arnav saw those two figures going out the clinic, through the window. Atleast she is safe now. He had strictly told Aman not to say anything about his presence to anyone.

************

Thank you for the comments and likes.

Katty

Friends I have created an index of my work

My index