ArHi OS: Mended

It seemed as if time stood still yet physically, the clock continued to tick on. The deafening silence brought an onslaught of past memories that were once buried in a deep corner of her heart. She clutched the broken glass star, mended with several stripes of clear tape. It was broken but it still came together perfectly, safely securing the memories hidden inside each of the shattered crystals. She held it up to the dark sky, rain pounding on in the background, and let it slip from her hands. She watched it slowly crash down to the wet ground and come apart. The stripes of tape could no longer support the star but from within, she finally felt mended.

It was hours after the funeral and she was in the same black dress, all wet in the rain. She looked at the broken pieces of the star and clutched the hem of her dress tightly.

Khushi, there is nothing that cannot be fixed. She still remembered the exact words that her sister had told her fifteen years ago her on the night of the New Year's Eve. She had broken the glass star that their father had given both of them as a souvenir. She never thought she would get that back but it was her sister who had proven her wrong. She had watched Payal as she slowly and carefully mended the pieces together with transparent tape.

This time she wasn't right. Khushi watched the tiny crystals of the glass star as they drifted away in the little stream of water that had formed on the terrace floor because of the rain. Now it can never be fixed. Just like how Payal won't be able to fix the promise that she broke. She had promised her that she will always be there for her. But her promise was just like the glass star.

"Khushi"

She turned towards the French doors and saw Arnav standing there, sliding the doors. And before she knew, she was already running towards him. The tears that she held back in her eyes were falling down her cheeks along with the rain drops. And when she crashed into his strong embrace, she buried her face in his neck and cried. "Arnav.." She tried to speak but he shushed her and stroked her back gently.

As much as he wanted to stand there and comfort her, he knew she was freezing, so without breaking away from her, he moved into the living room through the door and with one hand still wrapped around her, he closed the door.

He held her until her breathing steadied and he felt her calm down.

"You should change your clothes. You might get sick." He said gently and she nodded. And then she looked at his shirt.

"You are totally wet." She said, her voice all shaky.

"That's all right." He said, but she was already walking towards her room. He didn't know whether to follow her or to stand there. As he looked around the apartment, a photo frame kept on the table beside the fireplace caught his eye. It was a picture of them both; he had his arm around her shoulder and she had a wide grin on her face, one that crinkled the lines near her brown eyes. It was the first selfie they took together.

"Here." Khushi's voice brought him back from the memory lane. She handed over a shirt to him. It was his. He wanted to ask her why she had still kept his stuff after they had broken up almost 10 months ago. But he knew this wasn't the right time.

It was as if she had understood what he was thinking, and she said. "It still fights the bad dreams away." She laughed in her small voice and Arnav remembered how he had given her that t-shirt that one night when he was leaving Seattle for a business conference in New York. She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to sleep without having him beside her because of the bad dreams she used to have as a result of a horror series she used to watch then. He remembered how he had told her that the t-shirt will fight the dreams away like he used to do.

He watched Khushi as her laughter became louder. And then it turned into sobs. "She's never going to come back." She said as she covered her face with her hands.

He hugged her gently. "Shh. It's gonna be all right."

"Can you please stay here tonight?" She asked after a moment. "I don't want to be alone."

"Yes. Yes, of course."

Moments later they both lie on the bed together, both in dry clothes. Her head rested on his chest and neither of them spoke anything.

"How is Aanya?" It was Arnav who broke the silence.

The sound of her name made her heart ache. That poor baby was just 9 months old and she had already lost her mother. Payal had conceived her through donor insemination and she was the only one Aanya had. She still remembered how they all would go to Gas Works Park to see the sunset. And how Payal would say sunset wasn't just about the end of the day and how it had a deeper meaning than that. Just like she used to say about the New Year's Eve. But Khushi never believed in her philosophy.

She wanted to ask him how he knew about Aanya but she already has the answer. He had his sources. He has been watching over her even after their breakup.

"Aanya is with Garima. I will be visiting them tomorrow."

"Can I come with you?" He asked hesitantly.

"Yes."

It didn't take long for them to doze off to sleep. It was one of the few platonic nights they had together and they slept peacefully in each other's arms.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and Khushi had planned a quiet night in her apartment for the night unlike previous New year's which she had spent with Arnav in a beautiful resort in the Maldives. She had loved walking on the beach with him by her side. And how he had mocked her when she was terrified of jet skiing.

When she had met him for the first time he wasn't the same as now. He was a bit sophisticated and unapproachable like any other billionaire would be. She had met him for the interview of her magazine article and there was this spark between them that they just couldn't resist. They started off as this erotic relationship but later on they began connecting more emotionally and that's when things got all messed up.

It was the same New Year's Eve when he proposed her. But she told him she needed time and that drifted them apart.

Arnav and Khushi stepped out of the SUV as they reached their destination. Her plan for a quiet and lonely New Year's Eve was going to change. She had made a decision and she was going to tell Garima about it today.

Garima was sitting on the rocking chair on the front porch with Aanya on her lap. Khushi walked fast towards them and when she reached them Garima stood up and let her hold Aanya. She hugged her small body and inhaled the sweet baby scent of hers. Oh my poor baby.

"Hello, Mrs. Gupta." Arnav said to Garima in his formal business man tone.

"Nice to see you, dear. Come in please." Garima said to both of them and they enter the house together. It has been so long since Khushi had visited the house. It was the house she and Payal had grown up and it still looked the same.

"It's good that you're here. I wanted to talk to you about Aanya. There is this couple who were best friends with Payal. They want to adopt Aanya. I figured, since I will not be in the best physical condition to watch over her in later years, why don't we consider their offer."

"Okay. But don't you think you are forgetting that she already has an Aunt who is very much capable of raising her?" Khushi said pointing her finger towards herself.

Arnav who has been holding Aanya put her down on her purple flower patterned white crib and listened to their conversation.

"Khushi dear, they are settled people."

"So am I. Editor of the Fashion Express"

"I meant they are married. You are 27 and... All I am saying is that Aanya needs to be with a family."

"Payal wasn't married. She didn't think Aanya needed a father."

"Which is the reason why we are having this conversation right now." Garima sighed. "Khushi. I know you care about Aanya. But do you think you are the best thing for her? And don't use Payal as a shield. She never found the one for her. You did but.." Garima stopped, looking at Arnav.

Khushi knew she was right at some point. But there was no way she was giving up Aanya.

"I am engaged to Arnav." Khushi said looking over at Arnav whose eyes shot up. Her eyes pleaded him to play along. Garima's stern expression wasn't giving her any clue if she had bought it or not. Garima looked at her hand and then at Arnav's.

"We must have left the rings in our apartment." Khushi managed to say. Garima looked at her suspiciously and then walked over to Arnav.

"Dear, are you sure you want to take responsibly of Aanya? I don't want you to regret your decision later." She asked gently. Arnav looked at

Khushi who was waiting for his answer.

"Yes. Yes, we are very sure." Arnav's answer brought delight on Garima's face and on Khushi's.

"Very well then, how about you two stay here for New Year's Eve. Khushi rarely comes here so I just want to spend some time with her." Arnav saw Khushi mouthing "No" but he nodded to Garima.

"It will be our pleasure." He said, leaving Khushi completely stunned.

Garima left saying she has yet to prepare the lunch for them and Khushi immediately came to Arnav.

"Arnav! What were you thinking? Why did you agree to her?" She hissed.

"I couldn't say no to her face!"

"What are you talking about? You're a business man. You say no to people every second!"

"This isn't a business deal and she certainly is not my client. She is your mother, Khushi."

"Step mother." Khushi corrected him. "And we didn't even bring any stuff. How are we supposed to spend two days here?"

"I don't know, Khushi. With no clothing stores here I don't know how we are gonna survive these two days!" Arnav said in a sarcastic tone and Khushi jut glared at him.

It was ten thirty in the night and Aanya was still crying. Khushi rocked her gently standing by the window in her room. Arnav showed her the dozens of stuffed animals that he had already bought her but she didn't even give a glance at any. Her voice has become weak from all the crying. And suddenly an idea popped into Khushi's head.

"Hold her." She said giving Aanya to Arnav. She hurried towards the dresser in the room and she soon found what she was looking for. She prayed the perfume that Payal used to wear on her and quickly came back to Aanya. As soon as she held Aanya, her crying stopped and she lied on Khushi's shoulder, her small hands touching her arms.

"She stopped crying. She stopped crying." Khushi beamed with joy, tears visible in her eyes. Arnav came to her and stoked her hair while his other hand caressed Aanya's back. "Thank you for being here with me."

"Always." Arnav said, pulling them closer to him.

When Aanya dozed off to sleep Khushi placed her on the middle of the bed and placed a pillow on the sides. And they both lied next to Aanya.

"She looks so beautiful." Khushi whispered caressing her cheek with her hands.

"She looks like you." He said.

It was Aanya who woke her up. She tucked on Khushi's hair and that woke her up. She looked at Arnav who was still asleep. It was the first time she had woken up before him. Careful not to wake him, she took Aanya and then placed her in her crib. Then she looked back at Arnav. She approached him slowly and then sat back on her knees when she finally reached him. She ran her hand softly across his forehead but quickly took it away when he stirred. She wanted to get up before he saw her but his sleepy eyes were already staring at her.

"Good morning." He said sleepily and yawned. Khushi got up and wished him the same, a bit irritated by him as he woke up too fast. "What?" He asked.

"Nothing." Khushi replied. "I have missed you." She said as she felt her heart explode with emotions.

"Yeah. But not enough to be with me." He said getting up from the bed. Khushi stood there, pain visible in her eyes. She knew he wasn't wrong. It was Khushi who had broken off their relationship. But a part of her wished if he would just say that he missed her too. "I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. But you didn't want that." He said looking at her. "And I don't hate you for that. I never will. But being fake engaged to you and being with Aanya just reminds me that I am never going to have that in my life." He sounded broken and so was Khushi.

She wanted to tell him that she loved him as much as he did. And that she never meant to hurt him like this. But before she could say anything he had already walked out of the room.

"Garima." Khushi called her as she entered her room.

"Do you need something, Khushi?" She asked gently. And Khushi couldn't hold up her tears anymore. She hugged Garima tightly as she continued to sob.

"I am so sorry Garima. I am so sorry for being such an awful person. When you married my father I thought you were trying to take my mom's place and I hated you for that. But you never did that. Even after our father passed away, you treated us like your own daughters but I... I always..." She couldn't finish her sentence as Garima shushed her. She stroked her back.

"Shhh.. You don't have to apologize for anything." She said.

"How can you be so nice to a person like me?" Khushi sniffed.

"Hey. Don't think any low of yourself. You're just different from Payal. Your father and I always knew that." She said, soothing her.

"What's that?" Khushi asked noticing the glass star on the dresser.

"That's Payal's"

"She broke hers too?" Khushi asked wiping her tears.

"Actually it's your star. Payal couldn't fix the whole star, one piece was missing. So she broke hers and then put the pieces on the floor. She wanted to show you that those broken pieces could be mended. She wanted to restore your faith in life and the beauty of it. Do you know why all New Year's Eve was so special to her? She believed that it was another chance for us to make it right. Payal took all her chances, Khushi. Now it's time for you to take on yours."

The day was a nightmare for her. Arnav still hasn't returned home and she had dialed his phone for like the 100th time and it was still switched off. She paced on the front porch hoping that he would show up.

And then she saw his SUV. He is here. She ran to him and when she reached him, she threw her arms around him, hugging him as close to her as possible. "I thought I had lost you."

"Shh. I am here. I am here." She drew back from the hug and then looked up at him. "I went to get this." He said handing her a plastic packet which had broken pieces of the glass star. "Garima told me it was Payal's. I am sorry I couldn't fix it." He said looking down.

"Everything is going to be fixed now." She said making him look at her.. "All my life I have been cursing fate for ruining my life. For taking away everything I loved. And in these years, I never stopped for a moment and appreciated what I already had. I thought if I let you go by myself then I would win. Fate won't be able to take you away from me. I was so wrong, Arnav. I love you. I don't know what might happen tomorrow. But what I have right now is what matters." She placed her hand over his heart.

"And I like where I am. You asked me to marry you and if you remember correctly I never said no." She giggled through her tears. "Well, I know I took a hell lot of time but I don't want to miss this chance to make it right. I just hope it's not too late."

"It's never too late." Arnav held his breath.

"I would love to be married to you, Arnav. I don't want to spend any second of my life without you." Khushi said.

"I don't have the ring right now." He said after a moment as he wiped off the tears on her face and they both laughed.

"It's always good to seal the deal with a kiss." She said, winking at him. And then they kissed. He swirled her around, both laughing loudly while the fireworks witnessed yet another new beginning.

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This is the OS which I had written for the New Years OS contest. We were asked to use imaginary couples but I had Arnav and Khushi pictured in my mind while I was writing this story. Can't help it ;)

Unfortunately AngelJot missed my entry as I PMed it a little too early... So as a result my entry was put up a few days later. But still some of you voted for me :')

A big thanks to AzraZaidi, SHINYSHREYA, _saumya_, piaviviandsena, -Angel.Candy-, mints23, Nandini007, Katelyn for voting my OS! :-)

Aaandd, AzraZaidi was the runner-up in the contest guys! She is one of my readers. :') I am so happy for you dear! I went back and read your OS again :-) You did a great job!

Let me know your views! :-) And btw, I am .MistyMornings. I have changed my username. ;)