A rather short one but I think my favourite so far.
PART 6Arnav's mother and grandmother had taken her father to the hospital that night. Khushi and Payal had to stay home. Khushi, for she was considered too young and Payal, because she had better not, according to their mother.
Arnav was their when the car had left taking her father to the hospital as she and Payal had stood with tears running down their faces.
"D- d'you think he'd be alright? We - we should pray," Khushi had said to her sister. She had wanted to forget what happened a few minutes ago. This was not a time for fights. They were sisters and were supposed to share their pain, be with each other. But Payal had turned towards her with narrowed eyes and had sharply said, "See what you did? I hope you're fully satisfied now."
"Payal, but I did not even do anything - "
But she had already turned her back towards Khushi and had entered back into the outhouse.
Khushi had turned to look at the Raizada servants lined up before her gaze had shifted to Arnav. Before she could have allowed herself to note his concerned expression, too embarrassed, she had broken into a run and had stopped only when she had reached the end of the street and had lowered herself on to the pavement, to catch her breath. She hadn't obviously been thinking when she's ran out of their house like that. It was cold and quiet that evening. It almost felt like midnight. She couldn't see anyone, just hear the thumping on footsteps that had followed her out. They were Arnav's.
"Khushi..." He had said, his voice a whisper, yet loud in the quietness of the winter night, as he had lowered himself beside her.
Hearing his voice, she had thrown her arms around his neck for a hug, her tears soaking and fingers clutching and crushing the material of his t-shirt.
"Where were you going to run off to?"
"I don't know..." She had said in between sobs.
As he had patted his head lightly, she had said, "it's-it's my fault. Maybe Payal di was right. If something happens to papa I'll never be able to forget myself."
"How's it your fault, Khushi? I've noticed your sister, sorry to say, but she's kind of a bitch. I don't like her."
"You don't like your sister either. You don't like anyone."
"Hey, that's not true. I like you. A lot." He had pressed a kiss on her hair.
She had held him a little more tighter at that, her body warming considerably.
"Do you think he'll be alright? Please tell me, he'd be alright."
She had heard him sigh at that. "Our family doctor said he's probably had a stroke, perhaps a minor one. He'll get better Khushi. Don't worry."
She had wanted to believe him. She always wanted to believe in everything that he said.
"Khushi?"
"Hmm?"
"It's cold, baby. Let's go home."
Fresh tears had appeared at that. Home. Their home. But for how long?
"I'm scared, Arnav."
"Of what?"
There were so many things. She was scared of something really wrong happening to her father. She was scared of Arnav going away to the U.S and so very far away from her. She was scared of people finding out about them. She was scared of losing everything they had. She was scared of another suicide attempt by Aman. She wasn't sure how to began listing them to him.
"Your father will get better, Khushi. Take my word for it."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I'm sure. Mutton Ki kasam, I'll give up on it if he doesn't get better. And you know how much I like your father's mutton korma."
She had pulled away that and actually giggled looking at his teasing face.
"Now believe me and get up."
She did. And then he had held her hand and led her back to their home. And she hadn't even protested when he had taken her to his room, locked the door and had asked her lay on his bed where he'd joined her, throwing a duvet over them and wrapping one arm around her waist.
Turning around, hiding her face in his chest she had cried some more and then just lain there listening to him breathe and feeling reassuring kisses in her hair every once in a while. She wasn't sure if she could get to be this close to him again.
Some time in the night, a few servants came and knocked at his door saying, "Arnav baba, you want to have dinner now? Arnav baba, please have dinner. Arnav baba, at least have milk. Arnav baba, do you know where Khushi is? We can't find her, she needs to eat something."
Arnav had looked at her and had asked her what to do. "I don't want to eat," she had said snuggling back into his chest.
"I don't want to either," he had replied, shouting, "I don't want to eat tonight and Khushi must have gone to bed, I don't know," to the door.
They had both lain awake for the longest time until they'd got a phone call from Arnav's mother saying that Khushi's father was okay, that he's had a stroke and would stay in the hospital for two more days.
Her body had shook with tears again hearing that, relief passing through her as Arnav had whispered, "Sshh, sshhh, see I told you, he'd be alright. Stop crying now, baby."
"I was so scared," she had said turning her back to him and then lying half on her stomach to cry into the duvet as he had switched off the lights and had hugged her from behind, fitting his body to hers. Suddenly she'd grown a little too aware of him. And if she wasn't wrong, he of her.
"I know," he had replied softly, his warm breath fanning her neck.
"Arnav?"
"Hmm?" He'd said as she had turned to face him again, their faces only an inch or two apart.
"I love you."
She wasn't certain if she'd been checking for his reaction but in reply he had leaned in and kissed her like he'd never kissed her before. His hand had stayed where they had been, around her waist as he'd pulled his body slightly over hers, a leg was thrown over both of hers, the affect of their closeness poking at the side of her hip. But it had been his tongue and lips that had shook her soul that night. It was almost as if he'd said that he loved her back with his kiss, but he hadn't.
She felt the kiss's affect even as she'd pulled back to rest her head on his shoulder slipping into slumber as she listened to his breathing slowly even out, his hand caressing her back.
Khushi had needed him that night in a way she hadn't needed anyone ever, and he had been there for her like he has always had.
She wasn't sure how she was going to be able to keep away from him in future, but all she knew was that she had to tell him, she had to let him know that she loved him and be in his arms for perhaps, the last time.
~~~~~~~~
Edited by Lilypop - 10 years ago
Udne Ki Aasha
Kumkum Bhagya
10