CHAPTER 16 (KHUSHI)
I could see the grief in every line of Arnavji's face…
The same face, which hours back had looked so peaceful and happy.
All his emotions were so extreme!
If he loved, he would do anything for you…
If he hated, he would do anything to you…
And now-
He was guilty…he would do anything to himself…
I was scared.
Should I have not told him the truth?
No. I did right…
I didn't want lies between us anymore….
Everything had to be transparent…
But I could see what he was doing to himself after coming to know the truth…
I stopped his fumbling hands, took the card from him, tore it to pieces and threw them on the floor…
He didn't react.
I put my hands over his and held them tightly.
Without looking at me, he freed himself, walked to the recliner and sat; facing the pool….
I felt dejected.
Just then, Hariprakashji came-
"Khushi bhabi, aapko sab neeche bula rahe hai, aarti ke liye."
"Hum abhi aate hai", I replied and got up.
"Aaah!", the hot coffee had burnt part of my sole too. The wound started burning, I lost my balance and fell on the bed.
"KHUSHI!!", Arnavji ran over to me.
He sat on the floor, put my foot on his knee and started examining it.
"Jake Di ko bol do ki Khushi aaj nahi aayegi.", he instructed Hariprakashji.
"Nahi! Hum theek hai…humein jaana hai.", I protested.
"Khushi-"
I put my hand on his shoulder, and searched his eyes as I cut him,"humein jaana hai."
Arnavji looked into my eyes, but only for a moment.
"Theek hai", he agreed and then addressed Hariprakashji,"hum thodi der mein aate hai.
"Ji Baba", Hariprakashji replied and left.
Arnavji gently put my foot and went and got the first aid box.
He came and sat down again and advanced to put the ointment on my burns.
I slid my foot away…how can he touch my feet?
It was wrong.
Without looking up, he held my ankle and brought it forward.
With one hand he held my ankle, and with the other, he gently applied the medicine.
He got up when he was done and put a hand forward to help me.
I held him, and slowly got up.
"aaah!", I exclaimed again and sat down.
"Khushi! Damn it! Jaana zaroori hai?", he asked exasperated.
"haan."
"Par kyu?"
I looked in his tired eyes,"Bas humein jaana hai."
I could see anger flash in his eyes.
"fine." He said curtly.
He bent down and gently picked me up in his arms.
I didn't resist….of course.
I wound both my hands around his neck for support.
He was avoiding me…not even looking at me.
He was hurting, and I understood that….but maybe he didn't realize that such Behaviour of his was hurting me.
One hand on his shoulder, I moved the other hand to his face.
At my touch, he looked at me.
Those eyes held so much in them!! For a moment, I was lost!
But before I could come to my senses and try to read at least some of those emotions, he looked away.
As we moved outside our room into the corridor, I traced the worry lines on his face without receiving any kind of response from him.
It was as if I was doing nothing.
I traced the frown on his forehead….the circles beneath his eyes…the hard, stern jaw line….
NO RESPONSE.
I sighed and kept my hand on his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat, and the sad song that it was humming.
This was going to be difficult.
We reached downstairs. Everyone was shocked to see me in Arnavji's arms.
Naniji was the first to exclaim,"Khushi bitiya?! Ka hua?"
Next was Di,"Khushiji?! Chote?" and Jiji too,"Kya hua Khushi?!"
Everyone crowded around the both of us.
"vo kuch nahi…darasal hum inki coffee leke gaye the, aur humara hi dhakka lag kar vo humare pair pe gir gai…", I paused as they exclaimed with a lot of "aaah" and "oooh" after seeing my ointment clad foot.
Arnavji's just one word stopped all the commotion. "Enough."
"vo chal nahi sakti. Jab tak vo theek nahi ho jaati, sab khana, pina…sab kaam kamre mein hi hoga. Jab mein ghar mein hunga, sirf tabhi vo bahar aaegi. Understood?", he asked, more like ordered.
No one dared to go against him. I just stared at him, craving for some reaction.
"mein doctor ko bulata hu. Par abhi, hum sirf aarti ke liye aaye hai, breakfast ke baad mein upar leke jaaunga use.", he continued.
No one commented or moved. After a moment he asked Di,"ab chale?"
Di hurriedly answered,"haan haan Chote! Aiye."
Once in the mandir, he slowly put me down.
I balanced on one leg, my wounded foot in the air, only toes touching the ground.
Arnavji stood behind me, my complete weight rested on him.
He slipped his bare foot under my wounded one for support, and kept one hand firmly on my stomach.
I held his hand, the one on my stomach, and pressed it softly, lovingly.
I didn't look up to see his reaction.
Then I continued with my hands folded praying to Devi Maiyya to get me through this time….
Get US through this…
I wanted all of this to end….
And end fast….
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