-Gayathri
OS: What is there in a name?
What is there in a name?
He had heard people say it many times. For many reasons.
But for him there was a lot in a name
A lot in a surname.
Malik. The name oozed the stench of betrayal. Of absolute loathing.
It was the name of the man who had cheated his mother. The same man who had made his mother leave him. He had smelled it in her blood. The name was there. It was branded on every drop of blood that dripped from his mother's thin, well kept fingers.
It was the name of another man who had thrown him and his sister out of their own house. A man who had shown no mercy at the sight of two children, one handicapped, crying out at the loss of their mother.
No he was not Arnav Malik.
He ripped his sharp tipped fountain pen over the writing, ignoring the beads of sweat that ran down his forehead. His gaze darted over to the clock at times. He had to leave for school in about half an hour. Tardiness was not a part of his newly formed personna. Feeling feverish, he continued.
"Chotte.."
He turned around to face the owner of the voice. His Di. She slowly strted to walk towards him, gripping the doorframe for support. He got up immeditely and rushed towards her, offering his hand. She gave him a small, nervous smile and took his hand.
He genly led her towards a chair next to him and made her sit down. After ensuring that she was comfortable he resumed his place on the floor and bent down again, his eyes only on his work. Somewhere..maybe miles away he heard someone switch on a tape recorder disturbing the silence with its cackling.
Anjali leaned forward and placed a palm on his shoulder. He turned around to take a quick look at her. It was strange how much his Di resembled their mother. His mother was not gone. She was always with Arnav. She was in his Di. He felt a small smile form on his lips at that thought. If only he could remember his father like this. IF only the mere memory of his father didn't torture him.
Enough.
His thoughts were straying.
He took a deep breath and tried to focus.
Anjali noticed that her brother was in deep thought. He had been locked up in this dark room since last night. Everyone had assumed that it was because of nervousness of starting over at a new school but Anjali had noticed that something was wrong with him. Was it the stiffness in the way he held himself? The newfound sharpness in his eyes? She didn't know. But she was determined to find out what was bothering her brother.She bent forward trying to see what he had been working on.
His school books were scattered on the floor, his bag thrown carelessly to a far end of the room.
"Chotte ye kya he?!"
He closed his eyes for a second wondering how to make his Di understand.
.She gently bent forward to pick up a book. The nameslip and cover was mangled beyond repair. She gently touched the place where his name shuld have been. A drop of ink dripped down on the floor from her shivering fingers. He shuddered. Ink was blue. Blood was red.
Don't panic, he reminded himself.
"Ma..yeh kitab..She had written your name for you right?. We had done it together. She wanted to get you ready for school during the vacation itself. She...she had written this for you"
Arnav looked down, not ready to meet his Di's eyes. The shadow cast on his face helped him, making his face unreadable.
"I have..mended..your old books too. Check your table". He retorted before getting up, in a hurry to leave.
A hand caught his. She dug her nails into his palm and pulled him slowly towards her. He turned around .
A tear streaked face met him, a plea already on her lips.
"Why Chotte?'
"Its outdated" he replied. "Its Arnav Singh Raizaada now."
That had been his first step to being Arnav Singh Raizada, the business tycoon.
xxx
He gently picked her up. It was second nature to him now. He was so glad it was over. He had finally thrown out the man. The man who had not only hurt his Di and Khushi. But also him.
Because of Shyam he had done two of the biggest mistakes in his life. First and foremost he had hurt khushi. Secondly he had lied to his Di. It had been to protect her. But maybe if he had told her before, things wouldn't have ended up like this.
Now she had to cope. He knew she would. After all she was Arnav Singh Raizada's sister.
He had reached their bedroom. He genly placed her down on his bed. The corner of his lips twisted in a smile as he noticed her displeasure at being set down.
He covered her with a blanket, wishing that it was enough to cover her and keep her safe from the whole world. He didn't know what accusations she would face at daylight tomorrow. He knew only one thing. He would be there with her, holding her hand through everything.
He took one last look at her, knowing that he would have to leave her to sleep's mercy. He would have to wait till morning to see those doe eyes again.
She stared up at him with tear filled and reproachful eyes. Didn't she want him to leave? Didn't she realize that she would be waking up to accusations tomorrow morning, all because of him and his damned anger? Didn't she realize that he was so selfish that he couldn't let her leave him even after knowing that he wasn't good for her? Only one way to find out.
He made a move to leave.
A hand caught his. She dug her nails into his palm and pulled him slowly towards her. He turned around .
The sight he saw left him breathless. She was gazing up at him her eyes filled with love and affection. Full of trust. She wanted him to stay.
He sat down near her enjoying the grasp of her hands on his. His eyes never left hers.
Silence was truly the language of love. He could see himself in her eyes.
He tried to control his wildly beating heart. He wasn't supposed to think like this. He needed to calm down. This was so not him. So not..
What the...
He couldn't remember his name. His name which he had spent months crafting. Months putting into action.
How can one girl do this to him?
He was Arnav...was Arnav..
Dammit..he was Khushi's Arnavji and that was as good as it could get.
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well thats it. :) hope all of you are breathing and fine. If you arent im sure some of your loved ones will sue me..:D and if you are then plz scroll down and hit d like button/type and post a comment :)
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