Chapter Three 'FF'pata nahin chala kab pyaar hua'

Chapter -3

Khushi ran towards the light..she saw the shadow in that light and she simply followed it like her heart asked her to... she did not know why..just that every fiber of her being was wanting to reach that shadow. The attraction was so much that she did not care what would come in her way, she blindly kept on running. She felt uneasy with all the effort she was putting in. She had almost reached it when she shouted, "please hold me... I don't think I can stay on my feet any longer... you need to help me." No sooner did she say that, than the shadow turned, the light focused on the two eagle like eyes which always looked so alert and beautiful at the same time.. he smiled and caught her as she smiled back and fainted into Arnav's arms.

Khushi woke up perspiring, she looked around for Arnav, only to realize that she was now in her own bedroom and in her own house and not in RM mansion. It was a strange dream, still she was satisfied, maybe because she saw Arnav welcome her into his arms. What a strange dream to have at 6 o'clock in the morning. She knew she had to forget him, which was impossible but still she had try. Or else she would die remembering him. Her soul was now empty and lonely like never before. She just now realized how attached and in love she was with Arnav. She had tried denying it for ever but in her heart she knew she loved him more than she loved herself. And this man whom she would give anything, thought of her as a gold digger, a person with greed and some one who betrayed his sister. How could he? Did they not spend enough time to understand one another. She knew why ASR had become ASR but why did he not try to understand that there was no way that Khushi could have betrayed his family come what may!

Tear drops rolled over her cheeks and she closed her eyes to try to go back to sleep but Arnav's smiling face kept waking her up. She gave up and got ready to help her mom and to make some Jalebis for Di since she had requested some.

Arnav turned in his sleep on the couch and something made a sweet noise and he woke up, "Khushi!", he called out automatically. Then he realized it was the payal in his hand that had made the noise. He was all alone in his bedroom and Khushi was in her house with her family. He sighed. There would be peace now...peace that he used to love but since the time Khushi had entered in life...he had not known peace. Khushi had come as a tornado and turned his life upside down before settling into a sweet breeze that he got so used to that the peace that he liked so much, was now suffocating him. He did not want peace anymore...He wanted Khushi...which was impossible!

Arnav got up to get ready for his office. He remembered he had to pick Khushi up and drop her at the hospital and somehow he was looking forward to this more than going to his office.

Khushi got ready and was thinking of how to let her lad governor know that she will be coming to the hospital on her own when she heard the horn. She huffed, no use, he would not take no for an answer and she was in no mood to argue. She said goodbye to buaji and her mom and babuji who looked very happy that Arnav had taken the pain to pick her up himself. She quickly sat in the front seat, kept the dabba in the back seat and put her seat belt on quickly and waited for the car to start. Arnav smiled inside, she was behaving like a small school girl who wanted everyone around to know that she was mad. "Point noted" he thought. As the car moved, "what's in the dabba? Di has enough food in the hospital." She remained silent. Arnav took a deep breath to cool down, "Okay, if you want to be childish about this fine!". Khushi looked at him crossly and replied, "I am not being childish. I am practicing to not get provoked by you. By the way the dabba has Jilebis that Di likes so much. She felt like having some yesterday but the hospital did not have it on their menu. FYI." Arnav shrugged but inside he felt happy at least he made her speak to him.

As they reached the hospital Khushi felt a strange sadness come over her. She was so used to having her lad governor around that when she realized she would not see him till night she turned to take a last look at him for that day. She watched him park the car, take the ticket from the parking attendant, carry the bag for his Di and walk with a stride that she loved so much. Arnav sensed she was looking at him but avoided looking at her, he did not want to break the spell. He too wanted to stay but he knew office had to come first as always. He came up to her and gave her the bags. As she took them their eyes met and they stood looking at each other for about two minutes before they realized they were on the hospital stairs. Arnav shook himself inwardly and turned around to go. He reached the card door and got in. As he started the car he looked at her and was surprised that she was still looking at him with those beautiful eyes which made him love her all the more. As he backed the car he could not pull his gaze away from her. At last he simply closed his eyes and forced himself to turn the car and drive away. Khushi felt as if he was walking away from her life and she had tried her best to stop him.

In the hospital room. doctor was attending to Di while Shyam looked around bored. He had hardly spent some time with the child yesterday. But then khushi had no expectations from him. The fact that he has started to behave properly was a lot according to her. as soon as she entered the room, his eyes lit up. Seeing this she felt like turning back and leave the hospital but she knew she had to stay to look after Di but with him around... the day looked very unpromising. Khushi said a prayer to her favorite goddess and walked in front of Di. Shyam looked happy. Khushi as usual ignored him and spoke with the doctor first who assured her that everything was going good and Anjali was showing improvement. He then gave her some new medicines which were required from the hospital medical store on the sixth floor. Khushi took the list and told Di she would be back and gave her the Jalebis that she had made for her. As she walked the stairs towards the sixth floor she felt as if someone was following her. She turned around but she found no one. As she turned towards the dispensary some one caught hold of her hand and pulled her towards the hospital balcony which was separate and closed to public. As she turned to see who it was she gasped.

Arnav was driving towards his office and as soon as he blinked his eyes, he saw sankadevi's sad doleful eyes which were just eating at his heart. He tried to control a lot but half way through he just could not bear it. He needed to see her happy and not sad, so he immediately turned the car around and reached the hospital in record time. He threw the keys to the parking attendant and ran to Di's room. As he entered, he was surprised to see Di laying with Choti alone. He asked, "Di how come you are alone? where is Jeejaji and did not Khushi come?"

Di smiled and replied,"yes Chotey, Khushi went to get some new medicines that the doctor had prescribed and your Jeejaji just followed to check if she knew where the dispensary was."

Arnav became alert. It was as if some sixth sense was telling him some thing was wrong. He quickly ran to the sixth floor much to his Di's surprise.

As he reached the sixth floor he asked the staff about Khushi, someone directed him to the balcony. he felt puzzled. Why would Khushi go to the balcony except...except to talk with some one..., someone like Jeejaji. His blood boiling he took big strides towards the balcony and was about to throw open the door when he heard Khushi gasp loudly.

"What do you want? How dare you touch me?". She struggled to break his grip. Shyam looked smug, "Khushiji, please listen to me. I know...I know about the real relationship that you have with Arnav. You do not love him. he does not love you...this is a sham marriage. I was waiting for this day. I am sure , now that Choti is born, he will free you and you can be back to your old self. Khushiji, Please try and understand, I have been so patient till now waiting for everything to fall in place. Please tell me the truth that you too love me! Come away with me...I need you."

Khushi felt disgusted. there was no end to his treachery. He was simply acting all these days. He was a creep and will be one all his life. This had to end now, this had to end here. She would have to tell Di and Arnav everything. Anger filled her being at being touched by him. She shook her hand off with such force that Shyam had to retreat back to avoid getting hurt.

It took supreme control on her behalf but she could not hold any longer, she lifted her hand and slapped Shyam on his face. The sound almost echoed in the small balcony. She then waited for him to be able to come back to his senses because Shyam looked dazed and stunned for almost 2 minutes.

Then she spoke, "What kind of a man are you...no wait what kind of an animal are you...Your wife just gave birth to your child and you come here asking me to have a relationship with you. I may have a sham marriage but I love my husband. I will love him whether he loves me or not. It may not be a marriage for him but for me it will be for my life. Papers do not decide your relationship...your heart does...and my heart is with Arnavji. So do not think that if we separate you will have anymore of a chance than you did when you were staying with us as a PG and deceiving us saying you were a bachelor with no one in this city. I have told you this once before and again I am telling you now. I do not love you, never have , never will. I love my husband. I know he hates me...but I love him. And don't you ever dare touch me again, do not forget I am Mrs Khushi Singh Raizada. I may not be close to my husband but I am pretty sure he will murder you if he hears about this. So Mr Shyam Jha you better keep your distance from me or else you may lose everything that you have."

Saying this Khushi stormed out of the balcony and walked towards the dispensary. Shyam looked angry and puzzled. Damn! he lost his chance again but no worries. He knew Khushi would not tell anyone about this encounter not while Anjali was in this hospital in recovery. he dusted himself off her angry words mentally and again with a smug smile walked back to his wife's room.

Arnav hid behind the door as he saw his Jeejaji leave the balcony with no trace of shame. he was a characterless man and he had managed to fool everyone but no more. He knew exactly what he had to do now. After shyam left he looked for Khushi. His heart soared at her name. ASR never felt this happy in his life. The mention of her name brought a smile on his face. he could control his feelings any longer. he felt like jumping up high and yelling to the world that he loved his wife. That he came to know that she loved him too..That she was innocent...that the creep had fooled her family as he had fooled his by his sweet words... Khushi never loved Shyam, never wanted him to leave Di...

He searched for her but he must have missed her. As he walked quietly back to Di's room he began to remember what had happened that night and what had happened today. he must have misunderstood her. And he punished her for something she never did. He felt guilty...for the first time in his life he felt scared. He was sure he would lose her ...

"No! I will not let that happen...I will make her forgive me...I must..Khushi...Darling..it is all my fault...I will rectify everything... Please just once chance is all I need."he said to himself. He would not feel ashamed to say sorry to her and beg her forgiveness. He had treated her unfairly and it was up to him to set it right. In fact he was also planning to set Jeejaji right..he had a plan."

The three were back in the room. Di was blissfully unaware as to how wound up all three were. Khushi was angry, shyam was nervous as he saw Arnav walk in and Arnav was happy..so happy that he was smiling. He walked straight to Di and choti and kissed his niece. Khushi was pleasantly surprised to see him. After the episode with Shyam, seeing Arnav, she felt like hugging him and speaking her heart out but she knew he would never believe her.

They had lunch together and as they finished, the hospital staff brought some Kulfis. Arnav had stayed almost half a day, much to the distress of Shyam. He had lunch with them. Khushi was happy to see him around, he was quite and there were no angry words from him, he quietly did whatever he was told. which surprised her. He left the room to attend a phone call when the staff brought the kulfi's. Di took one and gave one to Shyam. Khushi took hers with great pleasure and started to eat., It was a new flavor... chocolate kulfi. She in her haste had gulped her entire kulfi with traces of it left on her lips and round her mouth. Just as she finished hers, Di laughed at her greediness and said, "Arre Khushiji, please give you husband also some. I know he has diabetes but he can at least taste this. Its a new Kulfi flavor. Khushi looked sad, She would have to share the last one with lad governor..but not much she promised to herself. She walked out with the kulfi pot.

There was slow wind blowing as the sky look cloudy and dark. It was the rainy season. She walked up to him. He was standing in the balcony on the fifth floor which overlooked the hospital parking. As the wind began to pick speed, all the people outside rushed inside. They were the only two left outside. She went to him and said, "Di wants you to taste this kulfi, its a new flavor." He looked at her and smiled at the traces of kulfi on her lips and mouth. He knew after Jalebi, Kulfi was her favorite sweet. He knew she did not want to share it, he was about to say no when he saw Shyam staring at them.

Khushi stood still... controlling the dizziness that she was feeling right now...She wanted to prolong the memory so that she might not forget it. She then shook herself to come back to reality only to realize that this had actually happened. he was still standing in front of her. He wiped the remaining traces of the kulfi from her cheek with his thumb and put it in his mouth to taste it and said, "Like I said...I would like some more..." and left leaving Khushi stunned with pleasure.

To be continued...

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