Arnav drove like crazy. He should have known this could happen. How could he have underestimated his brother-in-law? He had to get to the station before the train left. He didn't know what time the train was also, adding to his woe was the non-stop rain.
Arnav entered the kitchen with his flask intending to refill. It. He heard the main door slam shut, 'who was going out at this time" he wondered. Did Di need to go to the hospital? Was she unwell? His mind filled with doubt. He rushed out to parking area, just in time to see a car leave the gates of RM.
"Di" he yelled and rushed back in the house to check. Pushing open his sister's room, he half expected to see it empty. But there his Di lay fast asleep while the baby was playing with her hair happily. A paper was fluttering on the bed held down by a ring. He picked it up to read. It was what he feared, a last letter to his ranisahiba by Shyam telling her everything including the fact that he was going away with Khushi far away from here. Arnav crumpled the paper in anger.
He could hear the train whistles from outside the station itself. He had to hurry, he didn't even know which platform it was on. He ran across the station halting just below the sign board highlighting each train and its platform number. There was only one train to Lucknow and the time was departure was in 3 minutes.
Khushi ran across the platform attempting to board the moving train. Its speed was increasing, just as her hand caught the handle at the door. Thanking devi maiiya she stepped across the threshold of the train just to lose her balance and fall off the train. She would have fallen if it wasn't for a strong hand to grab her hand and pull her back.
Frightened from the experience of almost falling off a moving train, she held on to the person's shirt. He ran his hand up and down her back trying to calm her. "Don't worry everything will be fine. Now that you and I are together." He muttered. Khushi pushed him off angrily she knew that slithering voice very well. It was none other than shyam smiling at her. She backed away from him saying "stay away from me" .
Shyam's eyes widened in fear as he stepped forward outstretching his hand "khushiji don't". Khushi stepped back trying to distance herself away from him but what she didn't know and what shyam had seen was that she was almost at the edge of the door. Losing her balance once again she fell off the train, but this time shyam was unable to assist her just as it was leaving the station, falling on the next platform tracks.
Arnav reached the platform just as the train gained speed and left the station. "Shit' he exclaimed. Cursing his faith, which had been playing games with him all the time?
Khushiji please try to understand" he begged.
"There is nothing to understand shyamji. Why don't you accept it that I am now married to arnavji". She replied.
Shyam raised his eyebrow in surprise "Marriage? What marriage? I know very well that he forced you to marry him or else he would stop payalji's marriage".
Khushi turned in surprise "who told you that?'.
Shyam gave one of his trademark evil smile and said "You told me when you were drunk on Holi".
Khushi turned away again trying to act innocent "I was drunk I could have said anything. We got married because we love each other". Arnav almost dropped his phone in surprise. "If he ever knows about your folly, he will kill you. So please stay away from me. At least think of Anjaliji and your unborn child.
Shyam smirked "I don't care for any of them. I married her only for her money. I love only you and even your dear Arnavji knows that. Khushi turned in shock "what do you mean?".
Shyam all the more happy to elaborate the truth before her "You know the night we met on the terrace well. You dear husband saw us there. He married you just to protect his sister. He knew about us all along." Khushi froze in shock. He knew? He knew everything?
Shyam happy to see his poison doing its job, left quietly knowing she will never trust Arnav again and he? Arnav will always consider her wrong due to his evil confession. Arnav Khushi will never be together. Hahahaha
Arnav turned away in dismay. He had lost her. He had heard her that night muttering in her sleep that she would never forgive him. He had wronged her and he wasn't to be forgiven. Her happiness would be her freedom which he had taken from her. He turned to leave, beaten when he heard the groan from the next tracks with a 'hey devi maiyya" dialogue. "khushi"he yelled climbing across the tracks to reach her.
Holding her head, she was sitting muttering devi maiiya's name. arnav couldn't believe his luck, that she was right here in front of him. But the sight of blood on her head, turned his joy to worry. He removed his handkerchief and bent to wipe off the blood. The touch caused her to open her eyes to see. She blinked at first, and then began muttering "Now I am hallucinating? Wow? I can see arnav ji right here in front of me. Me and my stupid brain".
Arnav smirked. He wiped the last drops of blood off her head, mentally examining the wound whether it needed stiches or not. "Khushi' he whispered. She looked up again and started yelling in shock "what?? You are really here? But why? You said you never wanted to see my face. Then you….wait I am not hallucinating am i. Hai Devi Maiyya then how is it possible…….."
Arnav put his finger to her lips and replied "Shut up Khushi Kumari Gupta". To which khushi in her fit anger replied "its khushi Kumari gupta Singh Raizada.", before realizing and biting her lip in embarrassment. She wasn't Mrs. Raizada anymore.
Arnav straightened himself and offered his hand to her "you need to show your head to a doctor. The cut seems deep". Khushi touched her wound and twitched at the stinging feeling. She hadn't realized that she was bleeding till now. She looked up at Arnav then at his hand before replying "I am not going anywhere with you Mr Raizada".
Arnav's smirk disappeared and his angry attitude returned. Here he was trying to help her and she was showing him attitude. The wound really needed to be look at and all she was thinking about was their differences. "Khushi this is no time for quarreling, your wound is looking serious. How did you hurt yourself?". Khushi stretched her legs and held the platform to boost her up, immediately his hands were around her waist to assist her. She pushed him away in anger. At one moment he was yelling at her and the next being sweet to her. Who was he really?
She looked at the height of the platform from the tracks thinking how she was going to climb them. The other alternative was to walk all way to the end of the platform and climb up the stairs to the platform. Thinking about how impossible it seemed climbing the platform she decided to walk to the end. However the end of the platform seemed to be shining with bright light. It took her a moment to assess the situation; a train was fast approaching them. But Arnav was quick in his reflexes; he already had his hand around her waist and whispered in her ears in a hurried manner. "Put your leg on my knees and boost yourself across the platform. Like a machine she followed his orders unable to comprehend anything, due to fright. She didn't remember how she managed to reach the top but when she returned to her senses, the train was speeding across the tracks infront of her coming to a standstill at the platform. She stood up in shock and screamed RNAVJI" before fainting.
There was something wet and cold on her head. She blinked her eyes open trying to adjust to the lights. Where was she? The room was familiar, wait a minute she was back at Raizada house, here in Arnav's room. She sat up allowing the wet cloth to fall of her head. Oh my god, the train arnavji, she had to do something. She rushed out of the room, straight down. Anjali di was crying bitterly and nani was trying to console her, Mamiji sat beside her looking upset while mamaji was being the silent onlooker as usual.
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