Chapter Seven:
The Swirling Storms
"Khushi bitiya you are here." HP stated, seeing Khushi standing at the parted doors.
"Yes hariprakah ji. Where is everyone?" Khushi asked searching the surroundings with her eyes. Her breath caught up in her throat at the mere thought of Arnav being in the house. Though her heart told her he wasn't in the house or else she would have felt that but she had to confirm her intuitions.
"Arnav baba has gone to office. Anjali bitiya and Adi baba are in their rooms. Things aren't good here khushi bitiya." He told her worriedly. Khushi let out a sigh of relief.
HP recounted the happenings to Khushi afterwards. Upon hearing the whole story Khushi asked HP to show her the way to Adi's room.
"But Anjali bitiya told me not to open the door until she asks me to." HP told her.
"I know. I will tell her I opened the door. Don't worry. Just show me the way." Khushi reassured him.
She opened the door of Adi's room and found him lying on his bed weeping silently on his bed having lost the power and strength to wail after all the shouty crying for an hour. She walked towards him and sat down on bed.
"Aditya?" She called out his name lightly, caressing his hair. Aditya turned his head up to see who it was. His eyes twinkled on seeing Khushi.
"KhooshKhoosh.!" He exclaimed and threw himself on her crying loudly.
Khushi managed to calm him down after a lot of mollycoddling and cajoling. Aditya was obdurate without qualm but in the end he agreed to listen to her.
"Now listen to me Aditya. You are a big boy and you should know your mother loves you." Khushi spoke cupping his face.
"No! She doesn't. She hates me." He shouted jerking away her hands.
"She doesn't. She loves you. Tell me how would you feel if I make fun of you? What if the you were the one to be soaked in water because your mother had pushed you and she had laughed at you after that?" She asked eyeing him.
"I would not have talked to her. I would have felt bad." He answered looking at her.
"See you are an intellectual boy. Your mother felt bad too. You should respect her Aditya. She loves you a lot. She cares for you. She makes you eat. She changes your clothes. Gives you bath. Reads you stories. Plays with you. She does so much for you. In return you should love her and respect her. Not make fun of her. What you did was iniquitous to her."
Heeding all that Aditya realized his mistake. His big brown eyes filled with ignominy and repentance. Mouth hung down in misery and regret.
"I ..am ...sorry." He spoke through hiccups.
"Don't be sorry to me. Say sorry to your mother." She answered.
"Mama won't listen to me. She is mad at me." He replied sadly.
"She will Aditya. I have a plan. Are you game?" She asked.
His lips broke into a huge smile and she hugged Khushi saying "Yes KhooshKhoosh I am game!"
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Tears ran down her cheeks and she rocked back and forth tapping her foot on the mattress in the process. Her son was getting out of hands. She had to do something to bring him back on track. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought of Aditya making such fun of her. Chottey and Shyam were spoiling him for worse. She would have to put a check on that and warn them. Yes she would do that. She heard a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" She asked facing the door and heard the scraping sound of paper sliding in through the door gap. Wondering what it could be she got up to collect the paper and on reading it all her anger dissipated into thin air. A flowery smile bloomed on her face when she opened the door and saw Adi standing there, head bowed.
"I am sorry mama." He apologized with utmost devotion.
And she took him in an embrace kissing every inch of his face.
"I am sorry too beta. Forgive me for locking you up in the room like that. I was just so angry." She spoke lovingly.
"It's ok." He answered kissing her on her cheek. "Come let's go downstairs. KhooshKhoosh is here." He said taking her hand in his tiny one and guiding her down the stairs and then it dawned upon her. The whole plan was of Khushi.
"Thankyou Khushi." She spoke smiling at her.
"Not at all Anjali ji. Aditya is a smart boy. He has the courage to accept mistakes and amend them. You should eulogize him." She replied looking towards Adi.
"You are right. He is my angel." She answered.
"Sorry about yesterday. I just wasn't feeling well." She apologized after a minute, her eyes fluttering in nervousness.
"Don't be sorry. It was nothing. Let's sit."
************************************
"The meeting had been called off sir. The clients aren't here yet. Their flight has been delayed." Aman informed a fuming Arnav.
"What the! You should have told me earlier. Get out now!" He shouted at him.
A timid shivering Aman made his way towards the open doors and before he could move out he heard the files been pushed off the table on the floor and a glass smashing with a resonating clatter. Aman couldn't help considering the prospect of Arnav being mentally tensed not that Arnav was a calm, welcoming personality. He was aggressive and famous for his constant overflowing anger but today there was something different in his body language and eyes. Like they were seeking what had been lost.
He had been with Arnav for three years and considered him his boss, mentor, friend and brother. He knew Arnav closely and could predict him awfully good but today he was at a loss. He shook his head sheepishly before sliding back into his chair.
Arnav on the other hand had more pressing and questioning issues flooding his mind. Now that the meeting was due tomorrow and he had no physical demanding tasks he made out his possibilities to head back. Yes i should go back and rest or else this headache will vanquish me, he decided. Nonetheless, his heart had other gatherings. Lets say like seeing Khushi again.. talk to her.. maybe touch her. He was obstinate enough to waft away the plays of his heart as hearty illusions. Without wasting another second he pocketed his car keys and walked out of his cabin in long angry strides. Better say "Arnav-ish walk" as it happened to be the staffs little inside joke. (inspired from twilight :P)
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"We should never hurt the ones we love, Adi. Always remember that. Love is too precious to be lost." The words undulated through the air and echoed in his ears as a whisper resonates in the confines of a cave. They held the a world of veracity the way they were issued forth. His lips curved into a derisive smile. How very convenient of her to lecture about love. Could there be a better actress than her in this universe?
Halting near Adi's room, he looked inside. There she sat with Aditya on the bed. Her slenders fingers ruffling through his hair whilst a cheshire smile adorned his face. His eyes twinkled with unconcealed admiration for her. He nodded his head in admission enthusiastically and lunged forward without any preamble pecking her chastely on her cheek.
"You are so nice, happiness."
Her heart fluttered so did his. Like a sunflower attracted towards the face of sun on its own accord she shifted her gaze towards the door knowing he stood there. Their eyes collided, holding each other captive. One pair burning in anguish and the other in fear of the unknown. After an infinistemal which paralleled the time dilation of an eternity she averted her gaze back to Aditya.
"Happiness?" She inquired as a whisper escaped her lips with a palpitating heart.
"Yes! Your name is Khushi. Right? And you spread happiness wherever you go. I didnt like KhooshKhoosh much. happiness is better. isn't it?" His childlike innocence seeped out, unknowing of the effect his words were having on them.
"Yes. It is..." She replied as her mind slipped through the sands of time into the eons of golden times.
"Don't be angry Khushi! What happened to your "We should trust each other theories?" he shouted to a running Khushi.
"Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada don't you dare speak about trust which you so brutally yet beautifully broke a few moments ago!" She halted and turned around, blasting a bewildered looking Arnav.
"Please just hear me out Tigress. I wonder why this tigress in you leaps out in matters concerning me. For the world you are the sweetest little recipe of happiness." He expressed, composing his brains.
"Was I supposed to laugh at this?" She mocked.
"Ofcourse not, Milady.I can never trascend enough levels of royalty to insult The Dutchess of Claymore. What is so grasping in whitney my love anyway?" He replied, collecting the novel from her hands.
"You have read it?!" She asked, bafflled.
"Ofcourse.My nightguard whispered to me about it ages back." He stated, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Nightguard? What in the name of Earth are you talking about Arnav?!" A confused Khushi asked, snatching her novel back from him.
"Time to pick up a classic from the dusty book cabinet of yours Arnav. Though it will give you a headache for sure but 'Khushi, your love' is planning to read a certain 'Whitney, my Love' soon. Come on, boy. Get your lazy bum off the bed. Impress her! These were his exact words. Pity he doesnt know how very insanely you are impressed with me." He replied, a proud smirk bathing his face as a bijou smile started spreading on her face.
"Wait a second! Whats there on your face? Oh my God is that a smile? yes it is. Hello peeking smile. Its so nice to meet you. the sun is finally rising.."
"Oh come on Arnav. You really think i will fall for these bizarre jokes? I thought you were better than this." She asked, turning to go back.
"Oh well I can be the best Miss. Gupta. And talking about bizarrness. Are we? You still cant sleep without cuddling your pinky!" He spoke hurriedly, making her turn around ever so fast.
"How on earth you know this, Beast! You read my diary!" She accused.
"Yes. But only a page. Can't I read your diary Khushi. You wounded my self consideration. I thought you loved me enough."
"Dont turn the steering of blackmailing because I am not going to join you in the ride." She spoke, biting on her inner cheek.
"Well I can always make you. Oh baby how I wish to make you do so much more." He replied, winking at her.
"Get Lost you pervert! Shame on you talking to me like this." She admonished, pushing him back lightly.
"When it comes to you all my shame evaporates into thin air. I love this blush that creeps up on your face." he took her hands into his, locking them in his grip.
"Just because I am blushing and smiling unwillingly doesn't mean I am oh-not-so-angry with you. My treacherous body doesn't listen to me but my mind does! And please leave my hands!" She spoke irritated, while a face glowing smile adorned her face.
"I would kill to explore how your body will dance to my tunes." he pushed her body into his frame.
"Shut up Mr. Raizada. Another indecorous comment and you would not be alive to dance on my tunes." She chided, struggling to escape his jail.
"Alright. I am sorry, Khushi. Rahul provoked me. He said I wasn't a man enough to try a cigar. My honor was at stake. You know I have never smoked. You believe me. don't you?" he admitted, letting go of her struggling form. As always his apology carried oceans of sincerity and admittance of the blunder he made.
"I do Arnav. But for heavens sake a mere cigar doesn't effects one's honor. Honor is built on the pillars of goodness and greatness. Promise me you wont touch it again." She spoke softly, ruffling his hair.
"Promise." He replied relaxing with her touch. He knew he was already forgiven.
"You know you are my very own personal paradise of happiness. I don't know what I had been doing in my life before you came." He sighed, collecting her in his embrace.
"You flatter me too much Mr.Raizada."
"Oh no I don't Miss Gupta. Surely you deserve this much flattery."
"I feel prestiged. We are in college premises Arnav or else i would have stayed here willingly. let go now."
He chuckled.
"I love you, happiness."
"Mamu!" Aditya's shout brought her out of her daydream. She furtively rubbed off the tear that threatened to escape.
"Mamu!" he exclaimed again running off and jumping in Arnav's embrace. A peck on his cheek and his platter activated. "You don't know what happened today! I made fun of Mama and she got so angry at me. She locked me in my room. I cried buckets, Mamu. See my eyes are still swollen and red. Anyways, happiness here then came along and made everything right. I even made a sorry card for Mama. Isn't this great? Do you want to see it? Wait let me show it to you." He ended, bouncing down.
The moment he ran off to his mother's room to get the card Arnav's eyes clashed with her form. She looked everywhere except him and this made him angry.
A control freak as he was he spoke, "I can't really say it's good to see you after so many years."
She looked up instantly, shocked at having spoken to. After a second of composure time, she replied courteously, "On the other hand Mr. Raizada I wish I could say the same but its good to see you after so many years."
"Don't you think I know you too well to fall for your conspiracies." He sneered, folding his hands across his chest. Khushi observed his form and found him exactly the same. He had the same air of confidence, haughtiness and ignorance he carried around him the on their first encounter. But something in his eyes was changed.
When they first met he had this twin pair of deep caramel oceanic eyes congregating a world of command and authority. Still they were carefree of the world. They were intact, alive and intriguing. While now everything about his eyes was the same except one and she wished for it to be a deception. His chocolate brown eyes were blank, broken and empty of all blithe and radiance like something deep down in him had died...never to be born again.
She felt she would smolder down to nothing under his heated gaze. Wanting to exit the room she replied hurriedly, "I don't know what conspiracies you are talking about. Now if you would excuse me."
He didn't reply anything and kept on scrutinizing her. Having found her chance to escape she trudged towards the door.
"Didn't you ever love me?" She stopped dead in her tracks and her heart stopped beating. The second she turned around under the spell of his words, her heart took onto a cadence of a blasting train looking at him. His eyes...she saw something there and the second she blinked it was gone like it was never there. Witnessing the naked hate for her very being on his face, she couldn't stop herself from literally running out of the room...her heart burning painfully.
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That's all for now.
Adieu.
Mischief Managed.
Edited by wardamatloob01 - 10 years ago
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