Hi all! So snakewa made you seethe all over again? And how oafish of me to dedicate an entire chapter to that slime. But what can poor CR do, she loves Daiyya Ho (for some psycho reason of course!). So yeah not much of him in this chapter. Let's turn our attention back to the leads and my favorite a.hole in this entire world, our dear protagonist.
Sleepless -Chapter 26
The showers had ceased for the night that was now blanketed with stars. Gazing at their twinkling tranquil from her window, Khushi spent a restless night lost to his thoughts alone. It terrified her, now that Arnav Singh Raizada's smothering presence in her life had invaded places of her she would never wish him to be in, her mind, her dreams and even her... heart. "No way." she cried sitting up on her bed making her sister who slept beside her, jerk her head up.
"What is it Khushi did you see a bad dream?" said Payal in a sleepily muffled voice putting her hand on Khushi's shoulder.
Khushi sighed, "I am fine jiji..." she said unhappily, "just that monster..." she muttered under her breath.
"What?" said Payal irritably.
"Nothing, you go to sleep...it's late."
"If it hadn't been for you shouting in your dreams I was already asleep. Peacefully." she complained while her head hit the pillow again.
Khushi grumbled inaudibly in her distress further, she tried to close her eyes but they would fly wide open, all she saw was his blazing gaze on her. She tossed herself facing the window again, she felt his arms around her, holding her securely while her own legs were slowly giving away, trembling for what reason she did not know. What she did know was that she did not want him to leave her, she did not want that warmth to leave her...ever, for it felt so...right, it felt so...good.
She shook herself, what was she thinking? She was not in the temple, she was in her house, in her bed...how could she feel for him like that? She kicked herself mentally and cursed him amply. And then she knew it, it was all because she hadn't eaten anything and on breaking her fast ate like a pig leaving Madhumati grabbing her head and cursing her appetite. That was it, maybe she was having acidity and that explained her weird thoughts. She got up from the bed and walked over to the drawer rummaging through it for an antacid. In the faint light of the lamp something shined, her heart sank, she picked it up and walked to the window with the tiny key resting in her palm. Why did she still keep it with her? When its owner had discarded it, why was she safeguarding it? Clearly it wasn't for faith it was something else... did it mean something... that ever since it had been with her, she had touched it every day never desiring to do away with it for it would remind her of a man, the very thought of whom tingled her nerves in weird sensations. She strived to expel all such thoughts from her mind, convincing herself that all she felt for him, all that she was supposed to feel for a horrible man like him was hate. But did she really? Her acumen sniggered at her faltering firmness to perceive a single emotion for this eerie character ASR, who at best hadn't left a vestige of doubt regarding how she was held blatantly contemptible in his highness' opinion.
For once Khushi wanted to pinch the crumpled portions of her heart reminding herself of how he'd belittle her, chide her, judge her in most humiliating of ways, insult her forcing her to carry the baggage which weighed far more than her tolerance limit under any other circumstances. But as if Devi Maiyya had made up her mind against listening to any of her pleas, all that was coming to Khushi's mind were blinding headlights of a deathly speeding car whose aftermath was, in a sudden flash being locked in the safety of his arms. Why did he save her? How was he there just in time in first place? She had herself seen him walk away with Akash and another man into the tower...he couldn't be omnipresent. Should that mean he had been near her, hiding somewhere...watching her? Her brain became a puddle upon realizing the conundrum called ASR, first he'd set her in a building whose dilapidation is life threatening, next he'd appear there to rescue her risking his own pricey little life. And today at the temple...so much concern? For her?
Annoyed over her ruminations, she placed the key subconsciously in her cloth sling bag and threw herself in her bed, pushing her face into the thin pillow, trying to catch a little sleep till she was once again haunted by a pair of outlandish brown eyes. A brown which wasn't warm, it was burning... yet so cold. She lied to herself that there was nothing beyond anger in them, still couldn't deny that they harbored more than just anger...there was pain...pain and loneliness. Loneliness? Absurd. He had such a beautiful family and such a pretty girlfriend...(the last thought making her cringe for some reason), why would he be lonely?
Her thoughts didn't rest while she wondered how foolish she was to be thinking about him, while he probably would forget her face in another two days. Sleep finally took over and she remained oblivious to the fact that the man causing this precious delay in it was himself much more miserable than her.
Arnav Singh Raizada rammed his brain into the computer screen, mercilessly finding faults in the fourth revision of the original plan of the mall his architects had worked on over the past week, yet intently peering into every nook and cranny of the computer generated graphical model couldn't save his mind from slipping into reveries ascribed to Khushi making him edgy. Her vivid, regurgitating images threatened to cloud his sanity as his own pulse throbbed remembering the instincts he felt when he saw her at the temple, which were very similar to the ones he had felt when he had seen her dressed for his calendar shoot and all the subsequent times when he had ever set his eyes on her. They were to seize her, grab her, snatch her away from the rest of the world, hide her somewhere only for himself and crush her under him in his passion.
It was peremptory now to distance himself as much as he could from her and her thoughts and him failing to gain control over his own mind brought him to new heights of restless anger. Am I so weak that I cannot push a girl out of my mind? he contemplated, his jaw stiffened and he was about to slam his fists onto the table when his phone beeped. He retrieved it and surprised himself by sighing in relief to find Lavanya's message for him. How he had completely forgotten about her existence.
~Are you up?~ it said.
He surprised himself further by replying to it ~ yeah.~
~God ASR, 'm missin u terribly. How I wish u were beside me right now, right at this moment...I need u.~ she typed as she looked longingly at the empty side of her bed, ~Do u miss me too?~
ASR reclined against the backrest of his couch gazing at the ceiling. He did not miss her but he did need her, he had just realized that Lavanya was the most potent drug against Khushi for he had not thought about her for the past one minute. Instead had been wondering the nature of his relationship with Lavanya, he chose not to answer that question.
~Hey?~ she messaged again. ~Don't u need me ASR?~
~I do.~ he typed.
~ ASR...~ she wiped a tear cornering her eye and didn't type anything else.
~Hmm?~ he sent when he did not get any response from her for the next few seconds.
~I thought...I cud speak to u or just see u?~
He checked the time on the screen 1:09 am, something didn't seem right, he could sense she was having trouble. ~Should I come over to your place?~ he offered.
~ASR, could we meet somewhere else? I guess I need some air, I could drive to the Radisson~
~You wish to drive out at this hour? Lavanya I could pick you from your residence.~
~No Radisson's close by, I'll be just fine. If u could make it there...~
Radisson wouldn't be his choice but he won't argue with her over this. ~see you~
****
Twenty minutes later he checked in the hotel disregarding the pleasantries extended by the manager and yet managing not to appear overtly rude. He had inquired for her at the reception and as expected found himself walking towards the sports bar. He scanned the room momentarily before finding her slumped against the bar counter. A man leering at her from a distance was met with his surly glare and backed off. ASR seated himself on a stool next to her, she greeted him by peeking a wane smile while her fingers played along the rim of her emptied glass of vodka. He looked down at the glass with a little frown, "I thought you needed some air..."
Lavanya raised her head pushing her curls back, she motioned around with her index finger, "There is air here." ASR scanned the room briefly once again, "I don't like crowded air." he muttered distastefully while tugging at her hand, leading her out of the room.
"I...l-o-v-e it when you treat me like a b-a-b-y." she drawled. He stopped near the exit and turned to find her batting her eyelashes at him. He smirked, "You are already high La."
Lavanya rubbed her head against his shoulder as he handed her a glass of water. Her eyes watched the starry sky lazily as they sat on a bench in the garden inhaling the silent fresh air. There was a long silence between them before he spoke, "So what is it?" He could clearly see the irrefutable stains of dried tears over her cheeks that had done the disgrace of smudging the cosmetic material thickly lining under her eyes. The concern bar was raised over his countenance though not deliberately calculated, but so it seemed. "Did Francis...?" he said through closed teeth.
"No ASR...it's Dad." she said her voice hoarse from commanding herself to hold back more tears. "He called me...now he wants me to forgive him."
"Forgive him for what?" said ASR turning his face away in annoyance.
"For all these years." she paused to take a breath, "I can't...not now." she added bitterly. He did not respond but simply stared at the lawn under his feet. "Why? After all these years ASR..." she continued, "suddenly he should remember he has a daughter somewhere... and take the pains or rather have the balls to say sorry... why now, when I have moved on, moved away from them he calls to remind me of him? I know it can't be his idea, it has to be that bitch who sticks with him... always trying to poke her nose at me... faking all that niceness." she spat and clutched his arm tighter. He threw her a short glance, "Acts." he spelled sardonically as his visage hardened. "They lust for an opportunity, just when you begin to think you could walk again people lash you down, flat on your bleeding ribs." he said morosely.
She stared at him, her eyes glazed and dreamy... perhaps that was why they were together. ASR and she had their similarities in trudging agony the difference being while she found solace in baring it all to him, he chose to be far more reticent. He'd never get close enough to lead her to the secret he kept buried in his heart (if there at all), the one that killed him every day. She'd hold herself back from probing him and he reserved himself as resplendently mysterious, encouraging in her a wild attraction and soft love for him.
"What does your grandmother say of me?" she asked suddenly changing the subject.
"It was a mistake Lavanya, to meet her without informing me. She's pissed at you." he stated plainly.
"I know." she muttered and felt for her hand bag drawing out a cigarette and a lighter from it. "Smoke?" she asked him. He looked dispassionately at the intoxicant in her hand and silently refused. She smiled ruefully, "You don't mind it but she hates it, doesn't she?" He nodded.
"You know what ASR, I like it that you do respect her opinions...she must be important to you." she conjectured while putting the intoxicant and its igniter back in her bag thereby depriving herself its pleasure.
"She is...important" he corroborated, "but I don't understand where to place her."
"Like you don't understand where to place me in your life." she mumbled quite inaudibly, she hadn't intended for him to hear but he did nevertheless. He knew she was right but was surprised that she should say it.
"It's not that Lavanya...it isn't necessary." he looked distracted. Lavanya smuggled her arms around him, burying her head in his shoulder, he casually stroke her hair with his fingers... she raised her head to meet his eyes, "...Could you forgive? If you were me." she asked meekly.
He for a moment looked into her eyes than removed his hands from her distancing himself, a humorless grin creasing his mouth, "No. I don't forgive Lavanya, nor do I seek somebody's forgiveness." he looked away as if in a different world now but his grin never ceased, "My Dad is as good as dead. You shouldn't take my advice on how to deal with yours. I can never forgive...anyone." his voice trailed leaving no mark of emotion but a hurt indifference. She circled her arms around his neck and kissed him in a frenzy, he was momentarily taken aback with her ferocity but kissed her back for it was the only thing he could do to soothe her and she to soothe him...
****
Morning after...
"Wonderful boy I must say, babua cares for all of us a lot." Madhumati's pitch inadvertently would reach higher frequencies while she'd excitedly convey her younger brother in Lucknow her heartfelt admiration and adulation for her tenant. "Nandkissore, I wonder at times that even in these modern times fine young men like Siyam babua are found...Sasi I must tell you golden boy, that girl must be very lucky who would have him as her husband" she concluded her Shyam litany with special emphasis on the last sentence making her intentions amply clear. While Shashi tolerated whatever she said though in admitting restlessness, he couldn't quite understand why his sister would now-a-days speak only of Shyam. On the other hand, his wife who sat beside him during all such needy times had no doubt in her mind about her sister in law's intents, she could hear each word that Madhumati uttered being loud enough, and the knowledge caused her distress. It had just been a couple of weeks ago when Payal's marriage had broken and she was in no mood to think of marrying any of her daughters for another year, even their financial condition did not permit such an indulgence. Still more depressing was Madhumati's adherence to insist upon calling Shyam as 'Khushi's friend'. Garima heard Shashi pleading Madhumati to give the phone to his daughters. She took his hands in her palms reassuring him as he took a deep breath, gathering himself to give his daughters the news that would surely leave them shaken. It had shaken Garima to the extent of self pity, that the walls surrounding her little family that she called home would soon be crushed by a rich constructor's roller in five days.
Shashi Gupta's taut features immediately relaxed upon hearing Khushi's chirpy sound as she snatched the phone from her aunt before she could read out the 'Thousand pages in praise of Shyam'..."BABOOJI" she cried excitedly as if talking to him after ages when it was only yesterday that she had spoken to him. "You won't believe, I kept a fast FOR THE WHOLE OF YESTERDAY"
"Liar...tell me you must have sneaked at least one puri here and there." her father chortled.
"No babuji, I did not." she sounded hurt that her father shouldn't believe her.
"Oh I get it, my little daughter has grown up." he beamed.
"Five feet-five inches." Khushi added with laughter and then sobered up, "Babuji I miss you and Amma so so much. But I miss you a little more than Amma." she declared, "When are you calling us back?"
"Uh, I am not impressed by your flattery naughty one I know that you'd say just the opposite when you speak to your mother." he said suppressing a laugh. Garima observed him, how hard her husband was trying to hide his pain...she did not understand why he wasn't telling them the truth. The phone was subsequently passed on to Payal. Garima knew Shashi would not be able to bear to sadden Khushi, it would be easier to convey the impending upsurge of grief to the elder and more sensible Payal. But nothing of that sort happened. He kept the phone down after a couple of minutes. She looked at him questioningly, "Why didn't you?"
"Garima, you heard the girls didn't you? They sounded so happy, I couldn't make my children sad over my pitiable state." he said pained to great extent. Garima shuddered watching his ashen face, he was getting weaker day by day. "And Mishraji will be coming in the evening, let's see what he has to say. Maybe there is some hope."
At Madhumati's residence ...
"Khushi did you sense an edge to babuji's voice today? He somehow didn't sound as cheerful to me as he appeared to." Payal brought to her sister's notice.
"Even I felt that jiji, he sounded disturbed. Perhaps because of buaji's condition..." said Khushi pulling out the empty container of cereals. "Look jiji, we don't have enough to last us a week and I don't even have my job now." her face fell.
Payal grimaced at the sight of the container, "This is worse than I imagined us to be. By the way, I have asked babuji to send here my documents, maybe I should have done it long ago... instead of resigning to your ambitions I should have acted more responsive and looked for some work for myself." she reasoned.
Khushi sighed, "Jiji, that time was different and we did not know a soul here apart from Shyamji, we did what we could... too bad it had to go wrong"
Madhumati entered the kitchen the same moment, "Haye re Nandkissore, Siyam babua? Did you speak to him? Has he reached Lucknow all right? Look it has been just one day and we all are missing him." Payal and Khushi stared at their aunt. She continued, "Isn't it Khusee?" the fat aunt eyed the skinny niece, Khushi didn't like it. She didn't like when her aunt called her 'Khusee' instead of 'Sanakadevi', "See in such a less time he has become so indispensible to us as if he is already a part of our family." she exclaimed and searched her niece's face for agreement. Instead of shying as she had hoped Khushi would, she grinned wickedly at her and placing her elbow over Madhumati's shoulder she wondered aloud, "Guess what? Buaji is having a little crush. Look how she is behaving like a lovelorn bird in absence of her beloved Shyamji." she sniggered. "Why buaji?" she pouted and winked mischievously. Payal laughed in support and Madhumati fumed and shook her head and moved her portly frame out of the kitchen.
Khushi turned to the kitchen counter and felt a pound over her head, she fell back...Please Devi Maiyya not again. What's wrong with me, she argued with herself in her mind staring at her calligraphy on the slab, where in the thin film of dust, her finger had sketched the letters A-R-N-A-V. She gasped, when had she done this? She couldn't even remember as she dusted the surface hastily with her dopatta before anybody could see her deed. Dejected she turned to leave towards her room, why why why she kept on questioning glaring at the ceiling. She sank in her chair against the desk and flurried when she realized her favorite idol of Godess Durga was missing from her table. "OF COURSE!" she cried out loud banging her fist on the table, "now I know why all this is happening, first acidity and now headache. Because the idol of my Devi Maiyya is not with me... hell for last two days it did not strike me, hadn't I kept it on my desk in AR designs? I'll have to get it back." she sprang up from her chair suddenly excited at the prospect of visiting AR designs again. Her heart shrank. "Idiot." she called herself.
"No...no..no, you are not going there and my word is final." announced Madhumati with authority. Khushi cringed back.
"What if you met Arnav Singh Raizada and he misbehaved with you again?" reasoned Payal.
"Oh no jiji, it's Sunday today. He won't be there for sure, only a little subordinate staff and I am not going there to make a small talk with anyone, I'll collect my things and come running back." she assured.
****
Arnav Singh Raizada descended the stairs rolling down the cuffs of his sky blue shirt, he inquired the servant about breakfast and was surprised at the response. He heard the clinking of utensils and crashing of crockery against granite and cheerful laughter which was very uncommon a sound to be heard in the Raizada Mansion, unless of course... He moved towards the kitchen and was startled at the sight that brought a faint smile to his lips- Anjali was seated in a high backed chair in the centre of the room laughing uncontrollably and his Aunt perched at the counter throwing disgusted glances at the three men in front of her. At the far corner his Uncle struggled with the toaster while Akash stooped over the stove, nervously moving the spatula in the hot liquid. The director of this bedlam was none other than his brother in law, holding fast crutches in both hands he limped on a fractured leg between Mahendra Singh Raizada and Akash giving them instructions as they prepared breakfast or were trying to... or so it seemed.
"Ouch." Mahendra yelped as he popped in the air a blackened toast. Manorma scowled, "Hello hi hunger bye bye food. Mahi, you are killing all my hopes of having a decent breakfast this morning." she spluttered peevishly.
"C'mon Manu its just black, and black toasts are the crispiest" he appealed to her with beady eyes.
"Sheesh Mamaji...your batter" cried Shyam.
"Oooh..." Mahindra slapped his forehead and rushed with the blender.
"Jijaji." charged Akash in an urgent squeal making Anjali put her fingers in her ears, "What do I do now?" he looked for instructions. Shyam limped towards him, "Now you place these jalebis in the sugar syrup." he said and Akash transferred the fried spirals into the vessel of the syrup, in process some oil spilled over his shirt. "Grrr... I declare it officially, I'll never use stove again. Only microwave cooking." he muttered,
"Excuse me Akash? There is not going to be a next time." Anjali chortled, "Accept it, Raizada men are no good at cooking."
"And that's exactly where we'll prove you wrong Di. Right chef MJ?"
"You bet chef Akash." said Shyam and turned to find Arnav leaning against the door witnessing the ruckus in slight amusement. "Oh hello Arnav I was just going to ask for you...we gave a break to all the servants today and thought of exercising a bit of our culinary skills. I have an assignment for you as well."
"Oh no, leave Arnav out of this." Anjali interjected, "He can't even warm his pasta in a microwave."
He shrugged, "Pretty much an exaggeration Di." he pointed wryly stepping away to attend his manager's phone call. Shyam turned to Anjali, "Is he going to work on a Sunday too? I was wondering if we all could have some family time..."
Anjali sighed, "You know how he is..." she paused as she watched her husband limp towards the closet of dishes. Before she could stand, C-R-A-S-H..."MJ are you all right?" she cried standing up.
"I am...but the dish isn't." he replied looking sadly at the broken china.
"Bye bye favorite dish." Manorma grimaced.
"Wait son I'll assist you, what is it that you need?" asked Mahendra making his way towards Shyam.
"Uh, nothing Mamaji, I was just looking for Sugar Free... you know Arnav can't..."
"Oh shit!" exclaimed Akash, "I completely forgot, Bhai can't have these jalebis of sugar syrup."
Mahendra nodded. "You know that's what you should learn from your brother in law Akash, in fact we all should... how he takes care of each one ours tiniest requirements, it's really commendable son, it really is."
"And how he always cheers up the mundane atmosphere of our house." Manorma chimed in. Akash smiled placing the jalebis in a serving platter, "And here comes the very first dish ever made by the soon-to-be-greatest chef of his time, Akash Singh Raizada." he announced grinning sheepishly.
"Ahem." Shyam interrupted, "who exactly was giving you the directions Sir?"
"Well, okay the recipe is stolen from the-greatest-cook of his time Shyam Manohar Jha." he said handing Anjali the plate. Anjali giggled at her brother's nervous anticipation. She took a bite, it tasted great, "Well done Akash...I am impressed but may I know whom did your mentor steal the recipe from?
The lawyer seized to breathe for a moment as a vision of a flurried young girl recklessly and restlessly cooking came to his mind, "Khu..." he muttered and bit his tongue, "Khu...rana, Khurana...an old friend of mine. I met him in Bombay, he's running his own sweet mart there."
****
PS: I will post the next chapter ASAP, but before that, my heartfelt gratitude for all your responses for the previous chapter.
Kumkum Bhagya
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