Years pass by like days but still, you're the only one moving in slow motion. The world keepseven after you've experienced a devastating loss; you want to go back and change it but you can't. 1092 days that he's been numb to almost everything. 1092 days ago he lost his love. Arnav lost her before he ever really had a chance to hold her.
The name Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada ceases to . The trail had gone cold before he even started looking.
Arnav stood in the bedroom he used to share with his wife. A blue marble in hand, he dropped it in the the the large glass cylinder that he used to count the days since he'd last seen her. Each marble symbolizes a day, three glass cylinders and 1092 blue marbles.
His cellphone started to sing and just like that he was brought back to the world he struggled to keep pace with.
Kanushi sat in the Bangkok airport waiting for the flight to Delhi to board. It was seven in the morning, which normally wouldn't be a problem if her sister hadn't kept her up, packing.
"Lalana? Are you awake?" She shook her sister
"What?! Is the plane here!" She jumped from her seat her chestnut hair falling loose of her hair tie
"No, I was just going to go to the cafe to get some coffee. I wanted to know if you wanted anything." Kanushi laughed at her older sister
"Sure. Watch the time though, you have to be back in time to board the plane."
"Relax La, Khun pa called me five times just to make sure we got here an hour early." She waved walking to the caf across the way.
The line was surprisingly short, Kanushi chalked it up to luck. She carried the two steaming hot coffees back to the wait area, where Lalana was scrolling through her phone.
"Oh, Khun pa said he'd be at the airport to pick us up. He wants to take us to lunch before he drops us off at the new house." She said with out looking up at her
"Why did he even take the job back in Delhi? We moved away three years ago because he had a better job offer here, right?" Kanushi asked her older sibling
"Actually he only came back to Bangkok because his friend is a Nero specialist and he wanted to get you treated. Khun ma and I were actually supposed to move to Delhi the next month, but you happened." She explained
"I don't know about life before but I'm pretty sure this family is the best thing that happened to me." Kanushi smiled
"Gosh stop being so sappy, it's too early it the morning for that."
"La, it's almost eight am." She raised an eyebrow at her
"Right, then the plane should be boarding soon." Lalana smiled nudging her shoulder in excitement
Kanushi was glad to see her sister so excited about the move. Their parents had gone to find a house in Delhi two months ago and left them behind till everything was settled.
In the past three years Kanushi had spent getting her nursing degree and completing her training to become a scrub nurse. Her father was so proud that she had chosen the medical field because Lalana wasn't interested in it. Lalana got a degree in fashion design. Their father always said Lalana was the dreamer and she was the practical one.
"Fight from Bangkok to New Delhi is now boarding." The voice came over the intercom
Kanushi grabbed their bags while Lalana got the tickets ready.
Luckily Kanushi managed to steal the window seat from Lalana, who was too busy on her phone to fight her for it.
"La, your going to run out of battery before the flight is over." Kanushi warned
"I'll just use your's." Lalana smirked
"My battery is at twenty percent because Khun pa called me so much." Kanushi laughed "but I brought a book if you get bored."
"It's only four and a half hours. I'll manage if my battery dies." Lalana rolled her eyes
Arnav had a busy day ahead of him. He'd already finished a conference call with Japan. He'd had two more meetings in the afternoon but at the moment he was on his way to the airport. Aman was arriving from his business trip to Vietnam.
Arnav hated the airport, it was loud and crowded. It made him feel claustrophobic, which is why a majority of the time it was Aman who went on the business trips. If the business was vital Arnav would either suck it up or ask Akash to go in his place. The only reason Arnav agreed to pick up Aman was because he'd accompanied a very well know fashion designer. Arnav shot off a text that he would meet them by the baggage claim.
Arnav made his way through the crowd. People rushed to get out of the crowded airport, so naturally he was like a salmon swimming upstream. He was fighting against the crowd to meet Aman and their guest.
Luckily Arnav was able to spot Aman right away, due to the fact he's a tall lanky fellow.
"Aman!" Arnav called
"Arnav." Aman waved as Arnav made his way over
"How was the flight?"
"It was good, I think that Mr. Chau wants to go straight to the hotel."
Arnav's heart suddenly started racing, a feeling he normally only got when Khushi was near. That's impossible Arnav thought, why would she be at the airport?
A musical laugh erupted from somewhere in the crowd. It took him half a second to place the laughter as his wife's. His Khushi was near.
"Aman take the car a drive Mr. Chau to the hotel . I'll get a taxi."
Before Aman could object Arnav was making his way through the crowd. He knew Khushi was near. He just needed to find her.
Kanushi forced Lalana to gather their luggage and carry them to the spot they were supposed to meet their father.
"I'll be right back, La. I just need to use the restroom." Kanushi tried to pacify her sister
Begrudgingly Lalana took the bags and made her way through the airport.
The restroom was surprisingly empty, probably due to the fact that people just wanted to leave the airport as fast as they could.
Kanushi spotted her sister and began making her way to her. A tall man had bumped in to Lalana, causing her to drop all of her things. Kanushi ran over as the man made his way off without apologizing to her. If the man had stuck around Kanushi would have scolded him for not being more careful.
"La, are you ok?" Kanushi said as she helped gather their things from the floor
"The nerve of that guy! He should look where he's going!" Lalana snapped
"It's ok La, I'm here now. I'll protect you." Kanushi soothed her
"Next time I'll use you as my body shield." Lalana joked
Kanushi let out a laugh and agreed to shield her at all costs.
Arnav heard his wife's laughter once again. He was going crazy looking for her. Maybe the stress had finally gotten to him and he was hearing things.
He searched for another hour to no avail.
Udne Ki Aasha
10