I Am Longing For You - Kaisa Yeh Khumar Hai:pg85 - Page 36

Arnav asks worried, "Di, but, why did you come? You should have just called me! Do you need anything?" Anjali says in an emotional voice, "Yes, Chhotey, I want something!" "What, Di?" Arnav asks softly.. Anjali's answer would stun everyone, not just Arnav, but for Dadi, "Return me my Shyam ji, Chhotey!" Arnav looks at Anjali with disbelief as she says, "Give me back my husband. I need him desperately." Tears trickle down her face as a pale Anjali begs, "My husband.. need him desperately, Chhotey!" Arnav struggles to control his emotions, asks, "Di, you are saying all this?" he clenches his teeth. Anjali says, "I am his wife, Chhotey!" "But, Di! Try to understand! You guys are emotional... After what Shyam did to you..." Anjali cuts him off, holds him on both the shoulders and says, "This time, you try to understand, Chhotey! This time, you accept what I have to say." Stunned everyone looks at Anjali as she becomes aggressive and says to Arnav, "I have accepted everything you said because I love you very much! Until today, I have accepted each and every decision of yours as final! Never said anything but today I am saying this, bring me back my Shyam ji! Chhotey, give me back my husband! Please, bring him back, Chhotey!" Anjali breaks down in inconsolable tears. "Please, give him back...to me!.. My Shyam ji.. bring him back... please..." Anjali keeps saying as she slips into semi-conscious state. "Di!" Arnav supports Anjali before she falls down. Arnav, NK and Aakash bring Anjali to her room. Everyone follows.

As Arnav lays Anjali down in the bed, Khushi tucks her in, Anjali keeps repeating Shyam's name... Dadi's words stop Arnav, "Now even Anjali has said it herself! At least listen to her!" Arnav immediately stops her, "Enough, Dadi! Di is not in a condition to make a right decision at present. Whatever she has said, she said because she has become emotional..." Dadi does not back off, harshly insists, "Arnav, stop being adamant and call Damad ji back! Your sister needs him!" Arnav answers in a firm voice, "I understand Di's needs pretty well... And Shyam is not one of Di's needs!" and Arnav leaves the room. Everyone watches their show down. Nani tries to calm Dadi down, "Sumi, calm down! We all will think about it with calm minds later on!" Dadi gives her a harsh look and leaves the room in a rage.. Nani goes after her. Anjali, on the other hand, keeps mumbling, asks to bring Shyam back to RM.. Mami's eyes fill to the brim, her heart goes out to Anjali. She says to Aakash, "What is this all happening in house? I feel that someone might have cast their evil eye on Anjali's happiness!" Aakash says in uncertain tone, "I don't know, Ma, but until today I have blindly trusted and followed every decision of Bhai!.. But I don't know why, today I feel.. Bhai should.. for the sake of Di..." Khushi watches them as Mami says, "Yes, Aakash bitwa! Even I feel the same!" NK's eyes narrow as he watches Aakash and Mami.

Downstairs in the lounge area, Nani and Dadi sit on the sofa.. Nani says to Dadi, "You should not lose courage in such a delicate situation! It might complicate things! ... and what does one have to gain by fighting?" Dadi is not a collegial person; she answers in accusatory tone, "Because of this fearful attitude of yours, Arnav's been making decisions for this family those are correct only from his point of view!... He is not bothered by someone's pain! Not even Anjali's pain!" Initially Nani makes a frustrated face but then she responds confidently, "I don't agree with you at all!... Anjali is my child also! But I know one thing, whatever Chhotey has done so far he did for the sake of Anjali's happiness!.. and even today, that's what he is doing!.. We must go with his decision!" "Enough, Devyani! Enough!" Dadi's 'stop' hand pops up! "I won't do what you are doing! Because.. I know that what Arnav's thinking, and doing is totally wrong!" Nani shakes her head in disagreement.. Dadi continues in a bitter tone, "My son, Arnav's dad, did the same fourteen years back! ..The past is repeating itself, Devyani!.. The same happened fourteen years back! ..mistake.. Everyone saw my son's mistake.. but no one said anything to that 'other' woman!.. and today! Even today, it's the same thing!" Nani is stunned by what comes out of Dadi's mouth next, "Whatever is happening in this house is just because of Khushi!... no one is considering her blameworthy.. " Nani defends in a strong voice, interrupts Dadi, "Who said to you that it's Khushi's fault?" "I know it!.. Because.. today.. Khushi is the 'other' woman.. no one else!" Dadi says aggressively. "I don't buy it!" Nani says in a strong voice. Nani tries to reason again, "It's nothing like that, Subhadra! You are misunderstanding! Khushi is not blameworthy in all this! I trust Khushi as much as I trust Chhotey in this matter!" Nani defends Khushi confidently. Dadi does not budge, "This trust has blinded you, Devyani! You cannot distinguish right from wrong anymore! Khushi is the culprit!.. I can say this with confidence because, I saw that same thing in her eyes that I had seen in that 'other' woman's eyes, fourteen years ago! " Nani sighs with frustration as Dadi continues; "She destroyed my son's life! Snatched away everything from me! I hate her!.. I never ever hated anyone this much! .. " Dadi recalls the past memories, "I still remember that day very well, when I met with her!" Images of how Dadi gave the peace of her mind to that "other" woman as she stands rolling her hands nervously, without any word, flash back in front of Dadi's eyes..."You were not ashamed when you did all this to a married man? You did not bother think about his wife and kids? You snatched away everything.. from me. .. from my family!" .. Dadi says to Nani, "She gave sorrows to everyone! She will never be happy! I will never be able to forgive her! She will have to pay for her mistake.. sooner or later! ... Whether it's Khushi or that woman!" Dadi's statement shocks Nani again. Nani asks, "Why are you comparing Khushi with that woman?" Dadi leaves . fuming.. "Sumi!" calls Nani to avail..

The Emotional Outburst and A lonely tear: Arnav sits on the chaise. In his room.. the tranquil water of pool reflects the light... Arnav's posture.. not as straight anymore.. he sits hunched... his eyes welled up.. his jaw tight.. his heart aches.. as he recalls... How Anjali lamented on the loss of her baby... His eyes fill to the brim.. his tears waiting to roll out... he clenches his teeth as he remembers how Anjali just asked to bring Shyam back.. How Dadi asked him to listen to Anjali... then his eyes flare with anger as he recalls Shyam's audacity when he told Arnav that Khushi had become his life, his obsession... and that Anjali was the only barrier between him and Khushi. .. Unable to contain his anger and frustration, Arnav picks up the vase from the table next to him and throws it on the floor.. breaking it into pieces.. Just then Khushi opens the door and walks in.. shocked she looks at Arnav. His eyes welled up... red.. his retlessness evident in his eyes, on his face,, in his posture.. His gaze lifts up. ...He finds Khushi... His eyes most vulnerable then.. Khushi looks at him... then looks at the broken vase on the floor. Briefly her eyes meet Arnav's welled up eyes again before she sits on the floor to collect the pieces of the broken vase.. Arnav's hurting heart tries to regain control. He closes his eyes.. one precious tear rolls down his face... as he tries to gather himself.. He silently wipes off that lonely tear from his face. He then gets up and joins Khushi in picking up the pieces of the broken vase.. Khushi looks at him with concern...Arnav looks at her without any words.. their eyes communicate... his heartache reflects in his eyes...






Khushi puts the broken vase with its pieces on the table.. looks at Arnav as he stands up... his face vulnerable.. his eyes brimming with emotions... Khushi briefly looks at him with concern and then turns around. Arnav grabs her arm as she starts to leave.. Khushi turns around and looks at him, his vulnerable eyes depict the deep pain and loneliness he feels.. he holds her hand and leads her slowly.. to sit her down on the table next to the chaise. He himself then sits down next to her on the chaise. His eyes gradually calm down and emerges an understanding Arnav Singh Raizada, suppressing his own vulnerability, he asks, "Khushi, did you have something to say?" Khushi looks up. Her gaze uncertain... she keeps holding his hand in her lap as she hesitates before saying, "Yes... I .. I wanted to.. I wanted to say that.. I am going home!" Arnav's face becomes vulnerable again.. his eyes reflect the loneliness once again as he looks her into the eye.. Khushi's gaze tells that she knows what his heart says..





"Don't Go!": Arnav's eyes well up again and he says in a heavy voice, almost in a whisper, "Don't go!" Khushi looks at him... looks him into the eye. His vulnerability not hidden from her.. her heart aches for him.. as she tries, "Arnav ji.." "I know!" Arnav says understandingly with a dejected face, "I know that you cannot stay!" and averts her gaze. Khushi looks at him with moist eyes, with a flicker of hope in her eyes she says, "But.. I can sit down with you for a minute or so!" Arnav's welled up eyes smile lightly through his tears as the two hurting hearts give solace to each other.. . Khushi slowly leans and puts her head on Arnav's shoulder, his hand wraps around her shoulder as he holds her close to him.. they derive comfort from each other... their moment of solace reflects beautifully in the night light into the shining granite by the tranquil poolside..

Later at night at Buaji's: Garima and Buaji sort out medications when the door bell rings. Garima opens the door. Khushi walks in. her face full of worries.. Buaji immediately stands up concerned. Garima asks, "Khushi, how is Anjali's health now?" "It's not alright, Amma!" Khushi answers, "How can anyone be alright after all that happened?" Garima says, "I can understand what that family must be going through!" Buaji gives courage to Khushi, "My butterfly, don't worry, dear! Devi Maiyya will fix everything! You go and rest! You must be tired! Go!" Khushi's eyes well up; she says, "Buaji, what Di has lost makes people get tired of life itself! My fatigue means nothing in that comparison!" Khushi leaves with a heavy heart, Buaji and Garima sigh..

Khushi sits on the bed.. starts taking off her bangles.. her eyes catch the sight of "A" in her mehendi on her hand.. it brings a smile to her face as images of how Arnav came and asked the henna girl to write 'LG' in her mehendi. And how she argued for A. flash back in front of her eyes.. On the other side, Arnav sits restless on the chaise when his eyes catch sight of the blob of mehendi on his hand.. images of how Khushi challenged him through NK to dance and put some mehendi on flash in his mind... He remembers how he gently swiped a blob of mehendi from Khushi's mehendi on her arm when he pulled her aside to secure the tie on her blouse. .. how he showed that hand to Khushi. The memories bring a light smile to Arnav's face. Both their hearts ache for each other as they look at their respective mehendi and long for each other... Khushi closes her eyes.,. tears trickle down her face as she remembers how Arnav pleaded to have her stay with so much vulnerability in his eyes and in his voice.. She makes the fist with the "A' on her hand and holds it close to her heart as she cries silent tears...

Next morning at RM: Dadi finishes her pooja. Takes the pooja thali to Anjali's room.. for prashad..offering.. Her eyes fill with anger and disgust as she enters the room and sees Khushi by Anjali's side in her bed. Khushi helps Anjali sit up in the bed. Nani stands by the bed with a glass of orange juice in her hands. Aakash and NK as well as Mami observe. Khushi swipes down Anjali's hair with a soothing hand. Dadi walks up to Anjali, "Anjali bitiya!" offers her prashad, "Take this prashad!" Anjali shakes her head in negative, Dadi says, "Never say no to prashad!" Nani nods in agreement. Anjali takes a bit and puts it in her mouth. This brings a smile to Nani's worried face, "Good! At least one bite!" Dadi puts the pooja thali away. Khushi says to Nani and Dadi, "Di has not eaten anything since last night.. and all of you never slept through the night! All of you go, rest a bit.. I will be here with Di!" Nani hands Khushi the glass of orange juice when Dadi intervenes surprising them and snatches the glass out of Khushi's hands.. Everyone looks at Dadi with questions in their eyes.. Dadi's piercing gaze stays on Khushi. Khushi gets up and looks at Dadi.. Dadi tells her off, "Don't you worry! I will take care of Anjali!" and looks at Khushi with stern face. Khushi looks at Nani ji. And everyone else.. as her heart sinks.. she realizes that Dadi is doing this purposefully. Khushi walks away from Anjali. As she passes by Dadi, Dadi cringes her body tries not to have Khushi touch her.. Khushi stands behind her.. millions of questions in her innocent eyes... Dadi pays no heed, says to Anjali with a sweet smile, "Come on dear, have some juice!. You need good nutrition at this time! Take this!" Brainwashed Anjali stays adamant, "No! Don't give it to me!" Mami urges, "Listen, dear! Have a little.. you might feel better.. have some!" Anjali closes her eyes and shakes her head, says, "I don't feel like eating or drinking anything!" Nani gently soothes her hair and pleads, "Bitiya, don't say that! Have some! .. just couple of sips.. it will be better.. " I don't want to drink anything! I don't feel like.." Anjali swipes off Dadi's hand with the glass.. that throws the glass on the floor... shattering it into pieces.. Stunned.. surprised.. everyone looks at her when Anjali yells, "I told you! I don't want to eat or drink anything! Leave me alone, please! Leave me alone!" Mami tries to reason, "But, Anjali bitiya! .." Anjali aggressively cuts her off, 'If you guys have not heard me then let me repeat; please, leave me alone!" Nani says, "Anjali bitiya, how can we leave you alone in this condition?" "I don't want to eat or drink anything.. leave me alone.." Anjali continues to yell.. The nurse comes running, asks everyone to leave. Asks Anjali to rest.. Aakash says, "Let go, Dadi!" Nani and all step out of the room. Nurse closes the door behind them. Nani turns around and looks at the closed door with tearful eyes. Dadi says to her, "Exactly what I dreaded is happening!"