Arhi OS: Tu hi mere Dua

Tu Hi Mere Dua

Arnav Ji,

Six months ago, when you dragged me to the temple and filled my forehead for the first time, claiming it to last only for six months I had nothing but hatred for you. I was enraged at being clueless to the reason behind this marriage, more so even when I lost my entire family. And six months later, here I stand, just as clueless as I was before. Each day I wondered why you married me, why would you threaten to break my sister's marriage when you were the one who fixed it, why would I see flashes of hate in your eyes once in a while, why nothing I ever did to annoy you ever affected you into leaving me, why your actions and thoughts never seemed connected, why you turned into a bigger enigma, harder to decipher by each passing day. None of it made sense to me.

The day before we got married you were going to say something to me. Something I could clearly see in your eyes, something I was dying to hear and something I wanted to confess. I don't know what happened that day, that changed the way you looked at me completely. The eyes that held so much care for me started to loathe me. It still doesn't make sense to me.

But I started to realize that none of it matters now. All the confusion, the pain, the tears, none of it matters when the whole purpose of it all was going to end. Now that this is going to end and we'll go away from each other forever, I wanted to tell you a truth. Something that has been hidden in the darkest corners of my heart, something that has always fought its way through no matter how much I tried to hide it, something even you, perhaps wouldn't believe even if I told you.

I love you. I loved you the day we were going to talk before the marriage. I loved you while hating you and fighting with you after the marriage. I loved you while irritating you purposefully. I loved you while you turned into a son for my parents and Buaji. I loved you while you started to learn that feelings are more important than money. I loved you while you took care of your entire family. I loved you while you watered your plants religiously everyday. I loved you while you started to love everyone around you, even my family except me. I loved you while hating you. I loved you while being hated by you. And I will always continue to love you till my last breath.

I know It probably does not matter to you, whether I live or die after I leave. But please do not ever tell my parents or JiJi, the reason behind our marriage. They will be shattered. I don't want them to lose a loving son. I've done my duty Arnav Ji. I've lived up to every rule and expectation, you asked me to abide by. I've done everything I can. And now I'm leaving. Far away from Delhi, far away from both our families, far away from everyone I've ever known. You probably won't do it, but my heart can't help but warn you. Don't look for me. Please.

Khushi

His heart roared in pain as his knees crashed down to the floor. Tears flowed mercilessly through his eyes and the pain he felt right now was nothing like he has ever experienced before. His eyes registered her lifeless body being wheeled into the emergency room as the doors shut close and he touched the folded letter that was now in his pocket. He fell down to the floor and cried, with his face in his hands. And he cried like he had never before. The pain he felt when he had lost his parents, when he was convicted to this harsh bad world, when he found out about Shyam's adultery, when he kicked Shyam out of the house after his sister had a baby, when Anjali cried through nights over nights about Shyam hurting her and even when his world shattered when he found out Khushi was innocent was NOTHING compared to what he was facing right now. She was innocent. He had wronged her, he had tortured her, he had hurt her, accused her, did what not. And she was innocent all this time. Oh how cruel he was, he thought. He didn't deserve her, he deserved this pain, but she didn't deserve this. He loved her, he always loved her and when he read her letter, his heart was twisted with joy, even without knowing Shyam's truth. It was a huge shock to him, when Payal spoke up for her sister when Shyam's truth came out after she left. He spent days searching for her, nights yearning for her, he used everything in his power to find her, but never expected to be called upon to hear the news of her accident. He wanted to kill himself for putting her through this.

A Doctor rushed outside to tell him, "Mr. Raizada, she's just slipped into a coma while we were operating on her. We were able to finish the surgery but'..", he sighed looking at the man in front of him. He could clearly see the damage thetruth would do to him. "But'.the chances of her surviving through are very less. We're going to observe her for the next 72 hours. And we're trying everything in our power to keep her heart beating'..the rest isn't in our hands", he finished.

No..no'no'..there must have been some mistake'..this can't be happening to him. That was his Khushi, his brave fighter. She made it through everything, even the worst of worst times he put her in. No, this worlds can't be that cruel to him, even if he deserved it. It can't take away his khushi, his life, his meaning, his heartbeat.

"Look'Doctor'Please please please save her! Please! I'm ready to do anything''I', read to pay any amount'..I've even ready to give my entire chain of industries, properties and money away'please just'just save her'.She's my life'.I can't live without her", he broke down. The doctor looked at him sympathetically, he had heard of the Stoned hearted Mr. Raizada who was filthy rich, but seeing his vulnerable state today he couldn't help but sympathesize with him, "I'm sorry Mr. Raizada'..Only If Money could buy life'But I'm afraid it doesn't. Don't worry, me and the team of doctors you had flown down from the US are trying everything in our power to revive her back to good health. Have hope. The rest is up to", and he pointed upto the sky before walking away.

Arnav cried out more now, sobbing uncontrollably, as he stared at her through the glass ICU doors. Anjali saw her brother breaking down and put a hand on his shoulder as she tried to control her tears. The entire family was tearing up and praying for Khushi, even Mami. Even she was praying that 'phatti sari' would become alright.

Arnav saw her attached to ten different tubes, bandages almost all throughout her body and the weak heart monitor that showed her beating heart. He placed his hand on the window on the door, almost as if he were reaching out to her. Remembering, reminiscing everything, while his mind was freezing up in pain. It was as if he could clearly hear out her voice.

"Hume Jaane dijiye'Humara jaana bahut zaroori hai"

"Aap yaha kya kar raha hai..yeh tho ASR ki cabin'.oh ASR!"

"Paisa sab kuch nahi khareed sakta Arnav JI"

"kam se kam bhagwaan ke samna aapna sar chukaye"

"Laad Governor!"

"Humari Ithni hasiyat hi kaha ki aap hume sorry bole"

"Aap aise Kyun hai"

"Kya Apne hamare liye chudiya khareeda tha"

"Che mahine ke liye shaadi? Kya bakwaas kar rahe hai Arnav Ji"

"Aisa Kyun hota hai Arnav JI? Humare Dhadkan teez kyun ho jaati hai"

"Hamesha hamesha '..Kya Arnav Ji"

"Yeh sab sirf naatak hi tho hai"

"Aap hi humara Swami"

"Aaj Mausam hai Suhana"

His sobs grew frequent as he remembered each and every moment they spent together. Anjali couldn't see her brother so helpless. She went ahead and hugged him tight. And he continued to cry harder, just like a baby. "Di'.Di'.Mere Khushi'..Di'.Khushi''Uske bina main nahi jee saktha di'..Main Nahi kho saktha''", he spoke in between his frequent sobs. Nani got up to rub his back as they saw him break down. Anjali pulled him out and wiped the tears gushing down his face. "Kuch Nahi Hoga Chote! Nothing will happen to Khushi Ji. Devi maiyya will take care of everything", she encouraged him. And that's when it struck him, DEVI Maiyya! He let o of Anjali and glanced at Khushi once. He wiped his tears and with a determined expression ran out of the hospital ignoring everyone's call.

He ran up the stairs to the mandir. The cool wind of the chilly winter night pricking his skin, but he didn't care. He took his shoes off and ran to the Mandir and stood in front of Devi Maiyya. The very same Devi Maiyya, who Khushi worshipped daily. Suddenly her voice spoke to him,

"Ek din appko samaj mein aayega ki aapke kismet Khud Devi Maiyya ne aapke haath pakad kar likwaya hai. Aur us din hum nahi honge"

More tears flowed from his eyes as he realized how right she always was and he knelt down in front of the idol. He joined his shaking hands and looked at the god. 'My Khushi always used to tell me that I'm not the one who writes my fate, it was some other external force and I never believed her. But today, I do. I'm in a situation that is beyond my control and that is why I'm bowing down before you. I have never asked you for anything in my life. But Today, I'm putting aside my pride, my ego, my money everything. Please please, please save my Khushi. She wouldn't been in this stage, had it not been for me. Don't punish her for my deeds. If you want, take my life, but please save her. Please save her", he said, bowing his head down to the floor and sobbing uncontrollably like a baby.

And Suddenly the Mandir's bells started to ring. He felt someone's hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see a priest smiling at him. "Utho Beta", he said. And Arnav got up, sniffing. "Lagta hai bahut pareshan lag rahe ho", he asked Arnav. "pandit Ji, mujhe yeh sab pooja nahi aatha. But meri Wife aaj hospital mein bahut serious hai. AAp please unse kahiye ki meri Khushi ko theek karne ke liye. Who devi Maiyya ka bahut vishwas karthi hai", he said pleading the pandit. The pandit just smiled at him. "Chintha math karo Beta. AApki Patni Bilkul theek ho jayegi. Devi maiya hamesha madad karthi hai. Yeh lo aur jaage yeh teeka or Prasad aaoke patni ko de dena. Who bilkul Theek ho jayigi. Devi Maiyya par vishwas karo", he said while giving Arnav the Prasad and sindoor.

Suddenly, Arnav's phone started to vibrate, "Hello'.Di'.Kya'..Khushi'.Sach'.Main AAb Bhi aa raha hoon", Arnav wiped his tears and a smile formed on his face. "AAp theek keh rahi hai Pandit Jii''Meri patni ko hosh aa gaya hai", he said. He took the theeka from the pandit jee and ran to his car. As he rushed in, Anjali ran to him. "Khushi's almost conscious Chote, The doctor said you can go meet her", she said happily. And at that Arnav ran inside the room, while Anjali and everyone were surprised and happy at the same time to see Arnav with a theeka and the Prasad in his hands. Love truly worked miracles.

"Khushi", he breathed out as he saw her eyelinks crinkling with movement and she slowly opened her eyes. He held one of her hands and caressed her cheek with another. "Khushi''.Khushi'.Kya tum mujhe sun sakthe ho'.", he said as she lightly opened her eyes. "Khushi'", he caressed her face as his tears flowed down his cheek falling on her face. "Arnav Ji'.", she said, surprised that he was here. The last she remembered was getting hit by a truck and then'.she blanked out. She looked around to see herself in a pretty scary hospital room, strapped to a million different machines with ten curious doctors eying her. "She seems fine Mr. Raizada, We'll give you some privacy. But hit the red button if any emergency comes up", the doctor said as they filed out one by one. He smiled a small smile at them not taking his eyes off of her.

"Khushi...tum theek tho ho na", he asked while caressing her face. She nodded at him, looking into his tired eyes. "Aap yaha'.", she started and this set him off. "Khushi'Main'.Mujhe Maaf Karo KHushi'I've wronged you'.I thought you were''forget it", he winced at what he was about to say. Khushi was extremely tired and sore around her body and she couldn't figure out what he was about to say. "I'm so sorry Khushi. I'm extremely sorry for what I've done. I shouldn't have tortured you for the past six months. And even a thousand sorrys wouldn't ake up for what I've done. But you can punish me all you want after you get better and we go home. You can even call me Laad Governor, Rakshaas, Shaitaan and even Swami, I won't mind. I'll even sleep at the pool everyday. I'll come live at Buaji's house without any AC, current or any other luxuries and won't complain for however long you want. I'll let you do your dabba business without interrupting. You can throw water at me in front of my entire business staff, delegates, or even in front of the whole world, I wouldn't mind. I'm even ready to bathe outside in laxmi nagar as a punishment", he said continuously, as he took her hand in both of his and brought it up to his chest. Khushi was surprise at his outburst, what brought this on, "Arnav Ji aap yeh sab'.kyun'kya..", she said confused, but she smiled a little seeing a red teeka on his face. "Forgive me Khushi'..", he said as brought his hand upto his face. "I've to tell you something way before I say anything else." And the way, he was looking at her with so much of love, the love she had always yearned for in her life and she knew what he was about to say. The heart monitor started to beep faster as her heart beat increased. Both of them looked at the beeping monitor and Arnav smiled as he understood what it was and looked back at her innocent face. "Khushi, Tumhare dhadkane iss liye teez ho jaa raha hai kyunki humare dhadkan bhi teez ho raha hai. Aur humare dhadkan ek ho gaye hain. Lekin iss baar, who hamesha hamesha ke liye ek hogaye hain. Aur zindagi baar, Humare haar dhadkan tumahare dhadkan ke thaal ke saath ki jeeyengi", he said while wiping the tears that were flowing from her face. "I love you Khushi. I love you so much that I can't even imagine how much I love you. You were right Khushi, I don't bow down to anyone and I should. But Today I went to the temple and I prayed for you. And now I realized I need to thank her. She brought you back to life, even when the doctors weren't sure you would make it. I love you Khushi. From now on Arnav Singh Raizada's entirely yours. You can do whatever you want with him. I should have given you this right way before, but I'm sorry. And I'm bowing down my love, my pride, my everything to you", he said bending his head down a little. Khushi sobbed a little in happiness as she touched his cheek. He looked up to see her smiling through her tears. He held the hand that was now on his cheek and he brought her hand closer to his lips and kissed her hand. "You went to see Devi Maiyya for me?", she asked him innocently. And he nodded with a smile. And her heart brimmed with happiness, she could truly see now how much he loved her. How truly he meant, when he said he loved her for him to put his everything aside for her. She tried to get up, but he pulled her down. "Nahi Khushi, don;'t try to get up" , he said while she stubbornly started to sit up. "Khushi tum'..kya", he said while putting pillows behind her back, as he sat on the edge of the bed trying to support her. "Arnav Ji, Hume aapse kuch kehna hai", she said. "Kya khushi", he whispered fearing if she would reject him, even though he deserved it. She read the fear in his eyes and touched his cheek as he moved closer to her, holding her shoulder. "I love you", she said smilingly and he looked into her eyes. And times stopped all together for them. "I love you too Khushi", he said before taking her in a hug carefully trying to not squish her. "I love you too'..Your my everything. I am whatever I am today, because of you. Di and nani brought me up and loved me, but you truly made me a complete person. I love you", he said kissing her forehead. Khushi closed her eyes sighing with happiness. He sniffed while he turned to get the Prasad and sindoor he put on the seat next to the bed. "Pandit Ji said to give you this sindoor and Prasad", he said while giving her the Prasad which she ate willingly. But he hesitated a little at the theeka. "Kya Main'.", he asked'and she understood like always and nodded with a smile. He filled her forehead with sindoor before putting a small theeka on her forehead. And once he was done with that, he started with his apology speech again, "I'm really sorry Khushi'.", But she cut him off this time. "Its okay Arnav Ji'par", she said'But he could understand her eyes completely, "But tumhe thoda wakth chaiye'its okay take as much as time as you want. And I'll do everything I've said before too", he said holding her hand. "Aap such main karenge na", she asked him and he nodded. "Tho theek hain, hume yeh deal theek rehega", she said smilingly weakly. Arnav smiled a little as he looked at his petite fragile wife. And he understood what she was trying to do, trying to be him, well if she could be him'then so could he. "Deal'.yeh koi deal nahi hai, yeh meri feelings hai aur meri zindagi, meri khushi hai", he said looking into her eyes and they both laughed at the role reversal. And she just hugged him at that. As he hugged her, he saw the entire family smiling through the glass door outside, rejoicing in the union of the star crossed lovers. But suddenly behind his di, he saw the Pandit who was there at the temple wave at him with a smile. And then in a split of a second he disappeared'.just like magic'.what was that'..He blinked his eyes to make sure he was seeing right. But then he looked at Khushi in his arms and then understanding flooded his mind. He had heard many people say god comes to help you in one form or the other and today he had witnessed it. It was none other than Devi Maiyya who had come to him in the form of the priest and helped him out. He thanked Devi Maiyya again in his mind for giving him his Khushi again. She was his khushi, his life, his everything and his dua.