Khushi awoke to a pounding ache in the back of her head. She couldn't open her eyes. Her lids were heavy - as if a hundred pound weight had been placed on top of every muscle in her body. But her son was possibly in danger. She had to find her son. She had to open her eyes. Think of Rohan, screamed every bone, every nerve. Think of your son. He needs you to live. Wake up Khushi. You have to wake up. With every ounce of energy that remained, she forced herself to open her eyes.
A bright white light blinded her, causing her to utter a pained groan. Am I dead? She wondered. She had read in many of her books that this is what dying felt like - the white light. It'd be good to be dead. She thought. Death is peaceful...nice - an eternal sleep. What do I have to live for now? But she knew the answer to her own question. Rohan. Slowly, the light began to dim and her eyes adjusted. What she saw made her heart sink. She wasn't home. This wasn't the house she had lived in for 7 years. These weren't the same walls - the same dcor. Where am I? She thought, beginning to get frantic. A number of theories came to mind. What if he isn't dead? What if I didn't kill him? Where has he brought me? Am I trapped? Will he kill me? Did he find Rohan as well? I need to save Rohan. Rohan. Rohan. "Let me go" she whispered with the last breath she had. "Don't hurt me. I haven't...done...anything to you"
But the voice she heard in reply wasn't her husband's. "BABE!" shrieked the shrill feminine voice. "LAY STILL OMG you're hurt! But you're FINALLY awake! Like...JESUS, how bad were you HURT? What did you DO to yourself? I was freaking WORRIED that you'd like...never wake up. I'm too young and beautiful to deal with a BABY, you know?"
Khushi winced. She was speaking too loud, too fast. Who was she anyways? And what was this about a baby? She attempted to push herself up. She was on some kind of bed. Who is kind enough to help me into bed? She wondered. She hadn't experienced such kindness since her father had been alive years ago. What she saw in front of her was the most decked up woman she'd ever seen in her life. She wore a blue miniskirt that finished well above her knees and a clingy red shirt that showed off all the right curves. Matching red sunglasses covered her eyes and her hair was curled and styled off to the side. Sunglasses in January? But Khushi had to give her some credit for her fashion sense. Whoever this lady was, she was no less than a model.
"I'm sorry...But do I know you?" Khushi croaked. The woman threw down her Michael Kors handbag, flipped her hair back and plopped down on the bed beside her. "WOW tum toh buhot hi filmy ho. Like those romance movie heroine types. Do I know you...?' ANYWAYS, no, you don't know me. And until 2 weeks ago, when your son BARGED into my house through the window, I didn't know YOU existed either. Annoying little kid." She groaned.
Khushi's knuckles were a ghostly shade of white. "Where is my son? Is he okay? What did you do to him? Where IS he? I need to see him." The woman in front of Khushi was clearly not pleased at the open accusation. "OH HELLO, why would I do anything to that little shit? Did you not hear me? HE entered MY house without MY permission. I could've called the police if I wanted to okay? So calm your hormones. Firstly, you're in the hospital. They only allowed one visitor at a time. And you were in a freaking COMA for 2 weeks. Do you know how much experience I have with annoying little kids? OH YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, I HAVE NONE. And despite that important fact, I took care of THAT LITTLE BOY for 2 weeks. So you're welcome. I'll grab your kid, hand him to you and be off on my way."
Just as she made her way to the door, Rohan ran inside, lollipop in hand. "MOMMY!" he shrieked, jumping into Khushi's waiting arms. And at that moment, Khushi knew she had her entire world wrapped around her. This little boy had become her life; her reason to live. "My baby," she choked. "Mommy's here. And I promise I won't ever leave you again. I love you. My brave little boy" Her heart was fuller now, in this moment, than it had been in a very long time. Right now, in this instant, she knew no fear. She didn't feel scared. She wasn't thinking about the future. At this moment, she had everything she needed. Her baby was safe.
Pulling Rohan to her side, she turned to the woman in front of her. "I'm sorry for earlier; truly sorry. What I said was absolutely uncalled for. I was scared." Her eyes softened toward Khushi. "I understand. Our introduction didn't start off very well," she chuckled. "My name is Lavanya Kashyap. I live in New York...just came to Delhi about a month ago actually - for a contract. I'm a model by profession." Go figure. Khushi smiled to the best of her ability and then winced at the pain that one small movement of her lips brought. "I'm Khushi Mehta...Gupta. I'm Khushi Gupta. This is my son, Rohan. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for us both. You didn't have to help us out and yet you did. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it."
Lavanya giggled. "Well, I have to say your son was quite persistent. Dragged me out of the house and told me to help his mommy. How could I not? And I wasn't being entirely honest when I said he was annoying. He's actually pretty damn cute, this devil. How old is he?" Khushi gazed at her son, feeling the love brimming in her heart. "Almost six - he turns six this June." Lavanya reached over, ruffling the little boy's hair. "You've got a pretty smart boy there - he knew to call for help when his mom was in trouble. Speaking of which, can I ask what happened to you? I mean...all the bruises, bumps and scars I saw on your body when I walked in...I don't understand."
Khushi froze. She couldn't move - couldn't breathe. These were the kinds of questions she had tried to avoid since the day she got married...and here they were, lashing out against her again. How long could she hide? There were bound to be questions, and she would have to be answerable. Because that's the kind of society we live in nowadays. She thought, bitterly.
She wasn't sure how long she had remained silent, but there must have been an awkward silence, because in a few moments, she heard Lavanya clearing her throat. "Okay, um, it's totally fine if you don't want to talk about it. I mean, you barely know me right? Makes sense..." She pulled her phone out of her pocket. "Uh, well, I should be off now. Work calls, you know? ALSO, I've paid all the hospital bills, so don't worry about that." She smiled. It was the first genuine, non-dramatic smile that Khushi had seen from this woman. "It was a pleasure meeting you Khushi." Her eyes flicked to the boy beside her. "AND YOU TOO, little champ!" She ruffled his hair. "Bye love."
As Lavanya stood up to leave, Khushi called out behind her. "Wait, Lavanya, please. I can't let you do that. Pay the hospital bills. You don't even know me; I can't let you do that. I have to repay you." Lavanya grinned, clasping Khushi's hand in hers. "You know, Khushi. When you're in my line of business, it gets tough finding people who are, you know...REAL. You're REAL. Stay that way. That's why I helped you. And I promise you, I don't regret it. I'm tired of pretending to be someone I'm not. I've forgotten what it means to truly help someone... for the JOY of helping someone out. After what feels like years, I've gotten the chance to do that. Don't take that away from me Khushi. I helped you because I wanted to. Not because I expected you to repay me."
Just as Khushi was about to insist, she felt a light tug on her arms. "Mommy...open the lolly" said Rohan, waving the lollipop in front of her. "I want to eat!" she smiled, giving her son a peck on the cheek. She grabbed the lollipop from her son's tiny fist. What she saw then, was enough to freeze her heart. There was blood; blood on her son's hand...blood on the wrapper of the lollipop.
"Sweetheart," she whispered. "Who gave you the candy? Tell mommy who gave you the lollipop." Rohan moaned, reaching for the candy that was grasped tightly in his mother's hand. "ROHAN," Khushi stated urgently. "I need you to tell me who gave you this." And then he said it; the word that chilled her to the very bone.
"Daddy"
Edited by .TouchMyHeart. - 9 years ago
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