OS - MISS U

It was a usual day for Arnav at office, hectic with meetings etc. It was around 10 when he returned home. When he entered his room and opened the door he looked up when there was no sound. The bells were missing. He then remembered how he had dragged them out in the morning after his fight with Khushi. He just turned into his room to see that it was empty. She was not there. For a minute he wondered where is she at this time of the night and instantly remembered what happened in the morning.

FLASHBACK:

The day began with the usual race for the bathroom and the usual tantrums that Khushi threw on his face every day, he wondered whether she took the whole night to think wat to do next morning to irritate him or whether it came naturally to her. Khushi and Arnav were arguing about some mundane thing when Shyam and Anjali entered. Seeing them they both abruptly stopped. Arnav's eyes did not fail to observe how Shyam was eyeing Khushi. He turned to see Khushi who was oblivious to this and was smiling at Anjali. Arnav noticed that she was not wearing her dupatta. He went closer to khushi and muttered under his breath "go and wear yor dupatta." Khushi immly did as told. Anjali, "Arre, wat were u two arguing about any prob?" before either could answer Shyam interupted, "yes khushiji any prob? whatever it is u can tell us, v can find a solution" Arnav retorted sharply, "whatever prob v have i think v r capable of taking care of it among us, wat do u say khushi?" he turned to her, she replied.."Haan of course." Anjali changed the topic as usual, "Khushiji, Payal was expecting you downstairs. As Akash is going out of station on business for a week, he has told payal that she can go and spend a few days at your mom's place, so she was wondering if u would also love to come?" Khushi was super excited and was about to answer before Anajli spoke "what do u say chote? u have any prob in khushiji going to her mom's for few days, may be just 1 or 2 days u can manage?" "Of course Di, i dont mind whatever.." Anjali and Shaym left and Arnav was still fuming with anger from Shyam's interruption and his irritation got worse when Khushi was jumping with excitement, "Stop it! " Khushi stilled. "i wish u would just go permanently so that i dont have this headache daily." Khushi's excitement died in seconds hearing his statement, her anger surfaced "then why the hell did u marry me forcefully and brought me here, i didnt beg u to marry me." Arnav took a step towards her in anger but thought better off. Khushi went on "even i would be free of all this faking and lies and headache. Im least interested in spending my life with a person like you, who cant even answer his wife's questions." Before Arnav could respond his phone range and he took his bluetooth to reply, Khushi whose fury was raging just walked towards his and took the bluetooth from his hands and threw it into the pool without a second thought, "everytime anyone asks u anything u dont care to answer but u answer your phones instantly and always on it, no respect for people and their feelings." Arnav who also blew the handle off was so furious that he wanted to break something and the first thing that caught his eyes were the bells, he yanked them in one move and threw them across the floor breaking them into pieces, his next target was the salman poster he tore it off the wall and yanked some of the stars that were hanging. When Khushi came to stop him, he took hold of her arms harshly and hissed under his breath, "u r nothing but a pain in my neck for the next 6 months which i will have to endure without any option, but dont irritate me and make me more wild than i already am.." Khushi's eyes were filled. She just dropped to sit on the bed when he left her and walked off. After that the entire morning both did speak a word. She did go down for breakfast. She came down only after he left for office and she cleaned up the mess in the room and packed her bag. The face was so dead that Anjali asked "what happ khushiji u r sad that u r leaving chote and going for few days? dont worry we will take care of him or if u dont want to gothen dont go.." Khushi responded "nothing like that Di, I am happy to go to my mom's place for few days, i miss them a lot."

Arnav freshened up and came to find that there was no coffee. He shouted for HP and asked for a coffee and when he came with the coffee arnav asked (yelled) him, "why u didnt c me coming then y wait for me to ask for coffee?" HP answered softly, "Bhaiya, sorry i forgot the routine, since Khushi bhabhi does everything for u and she doesnt allow any of us to do it, I forgot that she was not there." Arnav was stunned by his reply. He never knew that Khushi was doing everything for him, he thought it was still HP doing all the work. After his coffee Arnav did some work, though the room was very peaceful without any noise he still couldnt work, he thought "may be im hungry" and came down to find the family watching TV. Anjali looked up and smiled, but Arnav expected her to ask him about dinner, but she didnt. He went straight to the dining and called, "Di, whats happening, I feel hungry can i have some dinner please." Anjali rushed to his side, "Chote, so so sorry..I really forgot, as Bhabhi is doing all the work I totally forgot about your diinner, just two mins pls, Im really sorry." Arnav wondered "no one in this house does any work other than Khushi what is wrong with everyone?" He had his dinner and went to his "so-quiet" room. He looked around the room, "why shoudl i think about her. at last i have some peace in my room at least for a couple of days, let me enjoy that." He spent some time trying to work to no avail and then came back to bed. "Ooff I can have the full bed and a good sleep." He tossed and turned around but there was no sign of sleep nearing his eyes or mind. After a sleepless night, the next day he as usual went to office. As lunch time came and the meals arrived from the canteen, his tongue nor his stomach accepted that food, his mind kept going back to the taste of her cooking. At night he deliberately went late home so that he spent less time in his lonely room. Two days passed and the third day when he came down for breakfast Payal was serving food at the dining table. An excitement reached his eyes and they were searching for her, he thought may be she is in the kitchen. He didnt want to ask anyone. He went to the table, and smiled at Payal and she served for him also. As he was getting up to leave, Payal said "Arnavji, Khushi said that she will stay for few more days there, she called up to Di and Naniji in the morning and asked for permission and they said ok. She said that she will call u also, but Im just informing you." He just nodded his head and walked away. His eyes became dull and his heart had a heavy feeling. He couldnt concentrate on any work. Her face was the only thing on his mind. It had been 4 days since she went. The fifth day, he thought this is as much I can take. Im missing her in just 4 days? what is happening to me. When he started his car for office involuntarily his car went towards the Gupta house and before he could realise he was standing at the door and Buaji was welcoming him. He gave a weak smile and entered and could hear Khushi singing in the kitchen. His brain and heart started working only after hearing her voice. He felt alive. His eyes darted in the direction and Buaji noticed it and said shyly, "Haan, that is our sankadevi only, she is cooking and singing, you go, go and meet her, she is alone only in the kitchen, me and garima are going to the temple now." both walked away shyly. Arnav without hesitation walked to the kitchen and was standing with his hands folded and leaning on the doorway admiring his wife who was singing had stopped now and she was deep in thoughts. Suddenly as though she was pulling herself out of her thoughts muttered "why am i thinking of the laad governor everytime. I dont want to. He will be peaceful there without me, let me also be the same way." her muttering didnt go unheard by Arnav. His heart gave a flip flop hearing it but by the time he could react Khushi turned and was stunned to see Arnav standing there. Both of their eyes met with so much of excitement and their eyes welled with tears, but as usual the BIG FAT EGO came in between them and neither said anything. Khushi "aap?". "Haan mein. I've come to pick you up." "Why?", "what do u mean why?" "I mean, its only four days, and as it is you could enjoy your peace and leave me also in peace for at least a week isnt it?" Both their hearts said otherwise. Arnav didnt know what to respond by then he hears Buaji and Garima coming back and buaji asked "what happ bituwa u've come to pick her up?" Arnav, "Ha..yes, Di actually asked me to bring her today." Khushi's heart sank at his statement, "as usual the fake?" Both bid their good byes and had a silent ride home. As they reached home, he dropped her at the gate and went to his office. Khushi reluctantly came in and Anajali, Nani and her jiji though were happy to see her were surprised. Anjali spoke first, "Khushiji, you've come? u didnt tell us that u will be coming, Payal was telling that u will take couple of days more?" Khushi frowned, "Di, u only asked me to come isnt it?" "who said so?" "Arnavji..." Everyone gave a knowing smile. Khushi confusedly went to their room. "Again my jail sentence starts after the break" she thought. That evening Arnav came home early. Anjali and nani who were sitting in the hall gave a sheepish smile "hello Chote" "Hi Di" "Your coffee and dinner is ready." "But..how do u know that i'll be early today" "all of us know that" came a uniosion comment. Arnav ignored the joke and went up to see Khushi sleeping. He stood rooted to the spot admiring her and feeling what difference her presence made to his room and his life. It looked as though she was reading something and fell asleep like that. He went near her and slightly stroked her hair and softly spoke, "I missed u" there was so much of love in his eyes and in his voice. Khushi though was awake from sleep just by feeling his presence pretended to be asleep and pretended to mutter in her sleep "missed u too arnavji.." Arnav was taken back by her confession and smiled at her thinking that genuinely she was muttering in her sleep and went to refresh.

Same thought going on in both their minds as to how long these intentional and unintentional confessions are going to be recorded in each other's minds without admitting it in the open and the saddening thought of the burden and heartache that the untold love caused.