Waiting for you#3 ArHi FF - Chap 31(a) - Pg 20

INDEX

WAITING FOR YOU

CHAPTER 28 (A)

It became routine for Aman and Arnav to pick Khushi and Vaishnavi and drop them in respective places before going to work. A couple of days later, Khushi had her semester holidays and Arnav decided to open up the topic about his father, her past and her Uncle. Anjali knew that her brother needed some time alone and told him that she would look after Vaishnavi. Shyam and Anjali were taking the kids to a new children's movie the next day after school and she wanted Vaishnavi to join them.

After dinner, Vaishnavi was tired and they tucked her in bed. Arnav read her a few pages of Black Beauty until she was asleep.

Khushi and Arnav switched on the television and put on some movie. They got cozy on the couch. Arnav laid down on the couch with his head on a pillow he had added near the arm rest. He pulled Khushi to him and made her lie in front of her with his arm around her waist in a spooned up position. The couch was pretty big and they were comfortable in it. Khushi held Arnav's hand which was around her waist and watched the movie.

"Khushi, I have something to ask you."

"What?"

"Will you go out with me tomorrow?"

"Are you asking me out on a date, Arnav?"

"Yes, sweetheart. You can call it a date. And I would like to tell you something. More like confess someone's guilt."

Khushi turned around on the couch and faced him. "Guilt?"

"We'll talk about that tomorrow."

She nodded and hid her face in his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him.

"This feels too good to be true, Arnav. I did not know I would ever find somebody who would love me and want me. I will never let you down, Arnav."

He kissed her forehead and said, "I know, sweetheart. You can never let me down. Good night, Khushi."

"Don't you have to go home?"

"My home is wherever you and Vaishu are."

Her arms around him tightened and she said, "I love you, Arnav."

"I love you, too, sweetheart. Now, go to sleep."

"Good night."

"Good night, Khushi."

He pulled a blanket from the side table and covered them with it. Arnav enjoyed his closeness with Khushi. He had never imagined that he would be lucky to hold her in his arms after everything that had happened. He watched the movie and drew circles on Khushi's back until he finally dozed off.

Khushi woke up to find herself pressed against a hard chest. She was confused for a second. Then her mind cleared when she remembered that Arnav had spent a night in the apartment. She got up from the couch and watched him sleep. She smiled. He looked like a little kid when he slept.

"Ma..." Vaishnavi walked out of the bed room with the teddy bear in her hand. She looked at Arnav and asked, "Daddy stayed here?"

"Yes, baby."

She climbed on the couch and lay down next to Arnav.

"Can you stay with him for a while? I'll be back."

She nodded and hugged her teddy. Within minutes, she fell asleep again. When Khushi returned after using the restroom, she found the two sleeping peacefully. She took her phone and clicked a picture.

Around thirty minutes later, Arnav stirred and woke up. When he saw Vaishnavi curled up next to him, he smiled and kissed her on the top of her head.

"You have to wake her up. She has school."

Arnav raised her head and saw Khushi standing near the kitchen with a coffee mug in her hand.

"School is at nine, right? It's only seven now," he said.

"You are going to spoil her?"

"Of course. She is my baby and I am going to spoil her."

"Arnav, I am warning you. Wake her up or I'll take the apartment spare keys from you."

He was shocked. "You would do that to me?"

She rolled her eyes at his acting.

Arnav whined and slowly woke up Vaishnavi. He had already planned to stay the night with Khushi and he had extra clothes with him. He decided to get ready in the apartment and then go straight to the hospital.

Arnav and Vaishnavi got ready and the three had breakfast together.

"Vaishu, Adi is going to a movie and he wants you to go with him," Arnav told her.

"Will you come?" she asked him.

"No, baby. Ankit, Akshu and Rahul will be there with Shyam Uncle and Anjali Aunty."

"Adi and Rahul will be there?" she asked her voice filled with excitement.

He nodded.

"I'll go with them."

Before Arnav left, he told Khushi, "Be ready by five. We'll go out."

Arnav had his diary filled with appointments and meetings until half past three. After his work was over for the day, he went to his house to have a short nap. He woke up at half past four and had a shower. He put on a pair of jeans and a comfortable shirt and went to pick Khushi from her apartment.

"Where are we going?" Khushi asked once she was inside his car.

"Somewhere we could talk without anybody's disturbance."

"Like...?"

"You'll know when you see."

Khushi waited patiently. Arnav drove to his farm house in the outskirts of the city.

"Where are we?" Khushi asked him.

"Our farmhouse."

"How many do you have?"

"Just two. This one and the one in Lucknow."

He ignored the house and took her to the farm. It was an organic farm and he took her around on a tour. They found a shady spot under a large tree. There was a blanket underneath it. There was a picnic basket and Khushi looked at Arnav.

"Did you arrange this?" she asked him.

"Yeah."

A red and black butterfly stood on the handle of the basket. Khushi moved forward slowly and tried to catch it. The butterfly sensed her and flew away. She followed it and ran around from flower to flower. After a lot of chasing, she eventually gave up and joined Arnav.

When he saw her playing around with the butterfly, he realized how much of a childhood she had lost while trying to bring up Vaishnavi. He promised himself that he would give her the best life possible.

They sat on the blanket and rested their backs on the tree. Arnav gave her an apple as he munched on a pear in silence.

"What did you want to talk about?" she asked him when she was halfway through the apple.

"Do you know my father, Khushi?" he asked after a very long pause.

"I have seen his photo. There is one in the college office."

"Do you remember him?"

She shook her head. "Should I? I don't think I have met him."

"Yes, you have."

"Really?" She raised her eyebrow and asked, "And how do you know that?"

He threw the centre piece of the pear into the dustbin around fifteen feet from him.

"That was cool. Let me try."

She finished the apple and threw the centre in the direction of the dustbin. It hit the outer rim but fell down.

"I missed." She linked her hand with his and said, "Now, tell me. How do you know that I have met him?"

"That night when you escaped from some three men, you asked for my father's help."

She slowly removed her from his and asked, "How do you know about that night?"

"I didn't know about anything. Until a couple of days back. Even now, I know only a little."

He held her right palm and traced her scar with his thumb. She pulled her hand from his hold. There was a pained expression in his face but he masked it before she noticed it.

"The day we returned from Lucknow, I searched for some files regarding the hospital's property papers in the room which was once my dad's office. When I was looking through the cabinet, I found a diary. His last diary. One of the pages was bookmarked. In that page, he wrote about how he failed a little girl amost ten years back."

He took the diary from the picnic basket and gave it to her. Khushi opened the diary with her trembling fingers and read through the entry. The year in the diary was 2009. It had been four years since Arnav's parents passed away.

The entry said,

Once more... The black day of my life. The day I failed in protecting the life of a little girl who came running to me asking for my help.

I still remember her. She was a cute girl whose eyes had nothing but fear and tears. She ran to me and hugged me. She asked me to help her. Three men were behind her and they wanted her. For what, I don't know till now. There was a bandage on her right hand and it was soaked in blood. She said that she didn't have anybody other than her Uncle and Aunty and that the three men were trying to take her away from the only people she knew. I told the men that I would go to the police but the men warned me not to mess with them.

I could do nothing when they dragged her away from me. She screamed when they took her. Even now, after ten years, I can still hear her screams whenever I close my eyes.

I was a coward. I was frightened that the three men who looked like thugs would ruin the happiness of my family and my children if I helped her.

I made a mistake. I realized the extent of my mistake when I returned home and saw my little Anjali sleeping in her bed with Arnav and Akash. I knew that I would have stopped the men if it was my little girl in their hands. She wasn't my kid and I didn't try much to help her.'

Khushi's sight blurred with her tears. She wiped them and continued reading the entry.

If only I had helped her that night...

I condemned some little girl to hell.

The next day, I drove by the same road and tried to identify the men. I didn't find them. I then tried to find the girl. I have been trying to find her for the past ten years. I have not been successful.

I feel guilty and I should be. Maybe this is my punishment for not helping her. She would have had lots of dreams. Her parents would have wanted their daughter to have all the happiness in the world. But instead of all that, I don't know what she is doing.

As a sort of repentence for my sins, I have asked my children and the college heads to start a scholarship program for the students studying in my college. It will help those who want to study but can't. I spoilt her life and it makes me slightly happy to know that this scholarship is going to help a lot of other kids.

I almost killed a child's soul and I am trying to help others out here. I have to be the world's worst man alive.

If the situation was repeated, I would help her any number of times. I wish I meet her once. Just once. So that I could ask for her forgiveness. I wish I meet her once to tell her how sorry I am for abandoning her.'

Khushi hugged her legs to her chest and hid her face between her legs. Arnav heard her silent sobs and pulled her to him. She clutched his shirt and cried. He pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his hands protectively around her. He rubbed her back in a soothing manner and told her by his actions that he would always be there for her.

He couldn't help the tears forming in his eyes. He didn't know what really happened but he knew that it was more than what a seven year could have handled. His heart ached for both his father and Khushi. His father had died with the guilt lying heavy in his chest. Khushi had crossed hell and lived through it. He couldn't help but admire the girl in his arms who would be the best role model anyone could ever have inspite of the cruel game fate had played with her.

Her sobs died down after a while. He lifted her chin and made her face him. He wiped her tears and kissed her forehead. She tried to move away from him but he didn't let her. He shook his head and tightened his arms around her. She moved her legs a little and he knew that she was not comfortable. He let her move away from him for about a few seconds. He made her put both her legs on his left side so that she was sitting on his lap and that her left shoulder was touching his chest. He kissed her temple and let his lips linger on her for a while.

WAITING FOR YOU

CHAPTER 28 (B)

"How did you know?" she asked him. "How did you know the girl your father was talking about was me?"

"I had a nightmare when I first met you. The same thing happened. A little girl hugged me and asked me to help her. I didn't know who she was until I saw your photo in your apartment. I knew that something was fishy."

She rested her head in the crook of his neck and he placed his cheek over her head. They stayed silent for a long time.

Arnav broke the silence by asking, "What happened, Khushi? Why were they after you?" He sensed her hesitation and said, "You can tell me anything, Khushi."

"I don't want you to fight with anybody because of me."

"Too late for that. I already sent Payal's parents to their house and asked them not to return."

She looked at him with her eyes wide open. "How... how did you know?"

"I put a few things together and found out."

"I never wanted you to fight with anybody for me."

"I will fight with anybody for you. After the lesson I learnt through the hard way, I know for sure that you can never be wrong and I will fight with anybody for you." After a brief pause, he said, "Tell me, sweetheart. What happened?"

She stayed silent for a long time and contemplated on whether to tell Arnav about it or not. Then she realized that she had already accepted him into her heart. Accepting him into her past would not be that difficult.

She slowly opened up and told him everything.

The nerves in his neck throbbed in anger. He fisted his hands and clenched his teeth. When she was finished, he hugged her close and tried to calm himself.

"Arnav, I..."

"Just let me hold you for some time, Khushi. Please, let me hold you."

He held her close and their hearts beat against each other. It took Arnav a long time to cam down. Khushi was fine and she was with him. She was his. Those thoughts calmed him down a bit.

"I am sorry for not telling you about this, Arnav. Only two people know about it. I have never been comfortable talking to others about this. I try my best to forget it." She looked at her scar and said, "This isn't helping me much."

He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed the scar. "I'll help you forget it, Khushi. I will make them pay for it."

She shook her head in fear. "Please. No."

"Why, Khushi?" he asked in confusion.

"I have gone through a lot without even making any mistakes. I don't want to punish them. What if you punish them and then I have to live through the repercussions? I know that they deserve whatever you are thinking right now. But I am frightened."

"Khushi, I will be with you. You will not have to go through anything like that ever again."

"Please, Arnav. I don't want to lose you. I don't even want to take the chance."

He sighed and finally nodded. "I will make your life wonderful and everything in your past will be nothing but a horrible nightmare."

She threw her arms around his neck and said, "I love you, Arnav. I really do."

"I know, sweetheart. I do, too."

It was almost half past six and a couple of lights near them blinked to life. They ate their picnic dinner in silence.

Khushi leant on Arnav's shoulder and asked, "Arnav, will it reach your father if I shout to the sky that I am not angry with him and that I have forgiven him? Will he understand that I never held him responsible for what happened that night?"

"I have a better idea."

She looked at him and asked, "What?"

He got up and brushed his pants. He held his hand to her and said, "Come with me."

She caught his hand and got to her feet.

He flicked on a few switches in the little room outsde the farmhouse and then took her to the other end of the farm.

There was a little granite structure. It looked like a gazebo. There were two photos on the wall at one side. Khushi recognised them as Arnav's parents.

"Di, Akash and I planned and built this place. We come here whenever we feel the need to be close to our parents."

Khushi stepped forward and knelt in the centre where there was a lamp on a white marble pedestal.

"I don't know how to start this." She closed her eyes thought for a second and then said, "Okay... I read your diary. I know, it is not manners to read other people's personal diaries but I did. After reading it, I don't actually feel bad. I got to know how you felt. That night when I saw you, I wanted you to help me from those men. You didn't and it hurt me a lot. But the good thing is, I did escape from them. I can understand that you were frightened for your family. Well, it isn't the best of reasons when you see from my point of view. Yet, I know why you did it. The fact that you wanted to change what happened is enough for me. I know you can't really travel back in time and change everything. The thought that you wanted to do it in a different way is enough. And then there is the scholarship program you started in your college. You repented your actions and did something good. But the truth is if it weren't for that scholarship, I wouldn't be where I am right now. So, you indirectly made me a huge favour. I will never forget your help. You don't have to feel guilty. There is not much to forgive you for. Still if you feel that I should say the words out aloud, I'll do it. I forgive you. I don't find it necessary for you to hold on to your guilt. I am right in front of you and as you can see, I am happy. I have a beautiful, smart daughter and I have your son by my side. They have become my life and we need your blessings to start a future together. I wish you were really here by my side to guide me through this big step that I have taken with Arnav."

Arnav knelt beside her and gave her a side hug. He kissed the side of her head and said, "You are the most selfless person I have ever met. How can you be so good?"

"I don't know. To think of it, I don't think I am good."

"What...?"

"I can never meet my Uncle and tell him that I forgive him."

"If you forgive him, you will be the number one idiot in the whole world. And I know that you won't and can't accept his apologies if' he gives one which I very much doubt." He turned to the photos of his parents and said, "Dad, mom... As you already know, this is Khushi. I love her a lot and I am going to marry her."

"Marry me? When did I tell you that I am going to marry you?"

The serious expression on her face shocked him.

"Khushi..."

"What...? I won't marry you."

His eyes spoke of the pain he felt in his chest. "Why?"

"Because you never asked me," she said with a teasing grin.

"KHUSHI..." he scolded her. "My heart almost stopped for a few seconds."

She laughed and ran away from the gazebo. He chased her and caught her pretty easily. He wrapped his hands around her waist from her back and twirled her around. She laughed whole heartedly and her laugh was like music to his ears.

"So, you want me to ask you the question?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"Okay. I will. At the right time."

WAITING FOR YOU

CHAPTER 29 (A)

Aman told Khushi about the operation schedule. It was scheduled for the next day at around ten thirty in the morning. Khushi had one full day to tell Vaishnavi about the next day. She was frightened of the prospect of telling it to her.

Arnav held her hand and said, "You are not alone."

She smiled. She turned to Aman and asked, "What is it going to be, Aman? Open heart or..."

"Her defect is not serious and I don't want to leave behind scars on her body. So it is going to be with the catheters."

"Well, that at least is a relief."

Catheters are thin tubes which are inserted into the nerves either in the thigh region or in the neck. The tubes are sent to the heart through the nerves and the defect is treated.

He nodded. "We do not want her to be frightened of what's happening around her and we have planned on general anaesthesia. We will be keeping her here in observation for a couple of days and then she will be free to go."

Khushi buried her face in her hands and sighed. "I don't even know how to tell her."

"She won't be able to understand if you explain it to her. Maybe you can tell her that she will sleep for a day and when she wakes up, there will be a dull ache in her thigh. Tell her that you will be with her when she wakes up. When she is old enough, you can tell her what happened. I don't think it is necessary but it is up to you."

She got up and said, "I'll talk to you later, Aman."

"Be here at half past eight tomorrow. Where is Vaishu by the way?"

"She is with Rahul and Prem bhaiya."

Aman hugged her and said, "Everything will be fine."

"Thanks."

Arnav held her hand and walked with her to the parking lot. He had taken half a day off to be with Khushi and Vaishnavi. His job was done in the hospital and he took her to her apartment.

They found Vaishnavi and Rahul playing with the building blocks in Prem's apartment. Neither Khushi nor Arnav spoke with her about the next day. They had fun with the building blocks and Arnav showed the two kids some magic trick with the cards.

While Vaishnavi was having her dinner, Arnav took Khushi to the kitchen and said, "We have to do it."

She nodded.

"Can I tell her?"

She nodded again.

"Both of you are not alone anymore. You have me to shoulder some of your worries."

"Thanks, Arnav."

He kissed her forehead and said, "Sweetheart, you don't have to thank me. You love me and that is enough for me. Now, come on."

They went back to the dinning room and Vaishnavi said, "Papa, I am finished."

He gave her a high five and said, "That's my girl."

"Baby, we have to tell you something," Khushi told her and picked her up from the chair.

They took her to the couch and Arnav placed her on his lap.

"Tomorrow morning we are going to see Aman Uncle. He will give you a medicine and you will fall asleep."

"Why?"

"It is a test for Aman Uncle. You have tests in school, right?"

She nodded enthusiastically.

"Like your tests, Uncle also has some. When you wake up, mummy and I will be with you by your side. You don't have to be afraid of anything. Okay?"

"Can I sleep on your lap today?" she asked him.

"You can sleep on my lap whenever you want."

She lay down on Arnav's lap and put her leg on Khushi's lap.

When she was asleep Arnav picked her up and took her to the bed room. When he placed her on the bed, she stirred in her sleep. He lay down on the bed and pulled her onto his chest. She stopped moving. He saw Khushi and patted the free space near him. She joined him on the bed.

Khushi and Vaishnavi fell asleep soon. Khushi clutched his shirt collar and cuddled close to him. Arnav smiled and spent the night with his two girls.

Arnav and Khushi took her to the hospital in the morning. A nurse gave Khushi a paper and asked her to sign it. Khushi read the information and passed it to Arnav.

When Arnav was about to sign it, the nurse stopped him and asked, "Are you related to the girl, Doctor?"

He gave Khushi an assuring smile and said, "I am her father."

They stayed beside her until she was given anaesthesia. They left the operation theatre with a heavy heart.

Those three hours were the longest three hours in their lives. Even though both of them knew everything about the operation and about her illness, it did not stop them from worrying.

When Aman walked out of the operation theatre with a smile on his face, they took deep breaths knowing that everything was fine and there was nothing to worry about. Khushi and Arnav went to see her. After another three hours of observation, they changed her to a room.

The two didn't leave her side. When she woke up, she felt a little disoriented. There was a slight pain in her thigh.

"Papa...?" she called.

"I am here, baby," he said and held her hand which was free of the IV.

"Maa, what is wrong with me?" the little girl asked Khushi.

"Nothing, baby. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you now."

Vaishnavi heard the truthfulness in her mother's voice and drifted back to a peaceful sleep.

Only when she was asleep did the two let their tears conquer the battle. They had been fighting hard to not show their weakness in front of her and frighten her. They had been strong for her sake. Arnav pulled Khushi into a hug and assured himself and her that their little girl was fine.

A week later, everything was back to normal. Vaishnavi took medical leave and was at home with Khushi. Three more days and she would be back in school.

One weekend, Arnav took them to the farm house. His whole family where there. He had planned to ask Khushi the big question and he roped in the kids.

When she was helping Anjali with the lunch, Ankit came to her and gave her five yellow roses which were tied with a black ribbon. There was a small card attached to the stem of the roses.

It said, You mean a lot to me.'

Shyam noticed the roses and the faint blush on Khushi's cheeks and said, "Looks like our chote saab is getting romantic."

The faint blush turned to a darker shade and she tried to hide her face by turning away.

Next Akshara came and gave her five orange roses tied with a dark blue ribbon.

The message in the card said, You are the angel who is brightening my life with your magical smile.'

Khushi looked around to see where the sender was. She couldn't find him.

Next came Adithya. He gave her five white roses which were tied with a bright red ribbon. Khushi opened the card and read the message.

It said, I will make all your dreams come true and chase away all your nightmares.'

Next in line was Rahul. He had the same number light pink roses tied with a brown ribbon.

The card said, I love you so much.'

Last was Vaishnavi. She had red roses in her hand which were tied with a white ribbon. She smiled at Khushi and gave her the roses. Khushi accepted it and read the message.

It said, Will you marry my daddy?'

Khushi raised her head to look at the five kids in front of her. Arnav stepped out from behind a tree with a lot of all coloured roses in his hand. In the middle of the bouquet of roses sat a black velvet box. Khushi got up from the blanket she was sitting and went to him.

He extended the roses in her direction and said, "Marry me."

She looked at the roses in his hand and smiled. Her eyes fell on the box and she then looked at him with her teary eyes.

She nodded and asked, "When?"

"As soon as our family arranges it."

He gave her the roses and opened the black box. He removed the simple yet elegant looking ring from the box and showed it to her. He held her left hand and gently slid the ring into her ring finger.

"All mine," he said and kissed her hand.

The rest of the family joined them with bright smiles on their faces. Prem took out a small box from his pocket and gave it to Khushi. She opened it and found a men's ring in it. When she looked at Prem, he tipped his head towards Arnav. Khushi held Arnav's hand and slid the ring into his finger.

"All mine," she said with a wink.

"Only yours," he said and hugged her.

Their family congratulated and teased them. It was Anjali who intervened and asked all of them to leave.

"Everybody, leave the newly engaged couple alone for a while."

Adithya put his arm around Vaishnavi's shoulder and took her to play.

The whole family left the two alone so that they could have their private time. Arnav sat on the ground with his back leaning against a tree. Khushi joined him and he put an arm around her. She leant on his shoulder and played with the button on his shirt.

"Khushi..."

"Hmmm..."

"You have been independent for a long time and I love that about you. You have raised Vaishu all by yourself, studied and worked at the same time. You have been running around non stop for yourself and for her. Now, you can stop with the multi tasking, Khushi. Both of us can take care of Vaishu and I'll take care of the financial issues. You can stop working and concentrate on your studies. I am not odering you or forcing you to do anything and everything I tell you. Just like you told me that day, I want you to have options and I want you to choose."

Khushi stopped playing with the button and looked at him.

"After you let me into your life, I realized how much of a childhood you have missed. That day when I saw you running around a butterfly, my heart ached for you. And then that night when you had kulfi like you didn't have a care in the world. You had to grow up soon to take care of the baby and in that process, you buried your thoughts deep inside yourself. I want to help you so that you can live for yourself for a while before starting a family with me. A part of you yearns to be free and I would hate myself if I let you continue handling all these responsibilities by yourself. I already told you, I am here to share everything with you. If you feel like you should work and study, I will not object to it. I promise you, Khushi, I am not trying to say that you should be dependant only on me for everything. I want you to experience a care free college life while I take care of you." When she didn't respond, he said, "If you think I should not have spoken these things..."

She shook her head and stopped him. "Nobody else has spoke me to like this and it felt overwhelming. Thanks, Arnav."

"What is it going to be? Can I take care of everything for you while you enjoy your life?"

"It's not going to be easy. I have been independant for a long time and trying to change that will be a little tough."

"Can you try?" he asked as he mentally crossed his fingers.

"Yes. Be patient with me for a while?"

"Khushi, we have our whole life ahead. And to answer your question, both of us are new to this relationship and we'll be patient with each other."

They spent some time together until Anjali called them for lunch. Everybody enjoyed the rest of the day in the farmhouse and then went home at night.

"Thanks for the ring, bhaiya," Khushi told him.

He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Did I hear a thanks?"

She shook her head and hugged him.

"That's better," he said. "Arnav asked for my permission to ask you the big question."

"He asked for your permission?"

"Yes. He said that he needed my approval since I am your elder brother. I knew from the start that he will win you over."

Her eyes widened. "Bhaiya...?"

"You heard it right, Khush. I made up my mind about him the day I saw him in your apartment." He placed his hand on her head and said, "You deserve all the happiness in the world, Khush. Arnav will make you and Vaishu happy."

"I love you, bhaiya."

"Love you, too. Khush."

Thanks and welcome back. Waiting for the proposal.

Wow! I waited so long to read this. I'm sure it's that evil person's job.. ( Payal,s dad) is the cause for this accident... When will your next update will be?