Arshi FF:Love Me Forever #2 LINK TO# 3 pg 149 - Page 11

Chapter 14

He was getting late for his meeting so tried to drive fast but was unable to do so as the truck ahead of him was running at a very slow speed. The truck was carrying a huge chunk of iron rods used for construction purposes a part of them were hanging out from the truck, the tempo running behind his jeep was following him closely. He attempted to overtake the truck but it was not giving him space, he honked his horns several times but even that didn't help. He was caught in the middle and he couldn't do anything about it and this was agitating him a lot when all of a sudden the truck applied brakes. He too managed to slow down his sedan but the tempo behind him couldn't control its speed and banged into his Sedan pushing it forward as a result the iron rods hanging from the truck crashed into his windscreen. She woke up screaming, "Arnav ji" breathing heavily, she looked around the empty room and realized that she was taking her afternoon nap when she dreamt of him meeting with an accident. Beads of perspiration formed on her forehead and lips,her heart was still beating fast making her feel restless. She needed to ensure herself that he was fine so picked up the phone to call him, she pressed her lips hard then closed her eyes in frustration as she couldn't get through him, she then tried calling Aman but his line as usual was engaged.

With each passing moment her anxiety was increasing, her heart feared something very bad was to happen, she left her room and was climbing down the stairs when she heard the phone kept in the hall ring.

Before she could reach for the phone payal had already picked it up, her face lost its color as she heard aman on the other side. Daadi who was sitting there too stood up in worry as she read payal's facial expressions, the receiver dropped from her hand when she looked at khushi and daadi who were waiting anxiously for her to speak ," bhai ..someone has shot bhai." She informed and began sobbing," he is in the hospital."

Daadi covered her mouth in shock and khushi grabbed her mangalsutra tightly, she didn't wish to break down, he would be fine, she assured herself.

The doctors were operating him while his family paced up and down impatiently. Aman informed them that during their meeting things got heated up between arnav and other members, arguments turned ugly and soon they broke into a physical fight where arnav got shot by them.

It was a long and complicated surgery, daadi was chanting holy mantras non stop while khushi prayed silently standing before an idol of Lord Ganpati. She firmly believed that her bappa would not let anything happen to him but still every second every minute she felt as if she was dying a thousand deaths, the wait was killing her.

After what seemed ages the red light outside the operation theatre turned off and the doctors came out to acquaint them of his condition. They had successfully taken out the bullets from the left side of his chest and right arm which had fractured too and now he was out of danger, they could meet him once he was shifted from the operation theatre to his room. Everybody let out a heavy sigh of relief and thanked god silently then went in to see him.

He was lying on the bed with his plastered arm hung in a sling and chest bandaged. He was still under the effect of sedatives but managed to keep himself a little awake, Daadi came and sat next to him, with tears in her eyes she brushed her hand through his hair and complained," chotte what is this ? why do you endanger your life? I can't bear to see you like this?"

He let out a reassuring smile and replied," Don't worry daadi I'm fine."

Daadi shook her head dismissing how could she not worry about him, payal also came near him, her whole face had turned red out of crying. She was still in a state of shock and asked him softly," bhai, how're you feeling?" he blinked his eyes indicating that he was alright and said," hey payal, stop crying. You're my brave sister." Making her smile through her tears.

His eyes travelled around the room searching for Khushi and stopped at the edge of his bed where she was standing with her head downcast, her eyes refused to meet his. Her heart sank on seeing him like this, all this might be normal for him but definitely not for her.

Aman came in and told them that doctor had strictly instructed that only one member of the family could stay here and rest had to leave so he suggested that he would stay with arnav and the rest could go back home and rest. On hearing this khushi's head shot up immediately and she interrupted by saying," daadi ji, I think it would be better if I stay here."

At last she broke her silence he thought, she glanced at him for a split second then dropped her gaze, daadi ji nodded her head in agreement," okay khushi you be with chotte. Aman will get food and clothes for both of you."

Daadi kissed arnav's forehead and left the room with payal and aman. A while later the nurse came and informed khushi what all medicines were to be given to him, she listened to the nurse carefully while he stared at her with his hooded eyes.

The nurse went back on her duty leaving the two of them alone, he gazed at the ceiling wondering how long would he have to be bed ridden, being helplessly connected to different medical devices monitoring him, all this was frustrating him and on top of that her not speaking to him was disturbing him even more. She did feel his gaze on herself and continued to ignore it, he had thought that she would show her displeasure at his actions and voice her opinion like she always did in the past but "no" she had gone all quiet something which was totally unexpected.

This time he initiated the conversation by clearing his throat, "you're upset with me?" she kept the medicines on his bed side table and answered dryly," as if it matters." She was walking away from his bed when he held the edge of her sari with his left hand and said," it does matter to me."

She turned to look at him then forcefully pulled back her sari from him, his tactics wont work on her this time, the pain, the hurt which she was going through was clearly visible on her face," arnav ji, if what I said and felt really mattered to you then today you wouldn't have been here like this." Tears stung her eyes and she cursed herself for being so bitter with him but she couldn't control herself on seeing him in such a condition," didn't you promise me that you'll refrain from blood shed? All this money and power are more important to you than your life?"

He tried to reach out to her but she moved back and was about to lose her balance and trip but held on to the bed just in time. Automatically her other hand went to her baby bump fearing about the child, she narrowed her tear filled eyes and asked him," Is this the world that you're going offer him?"

Not a single word came from his mouth, he was awestruck to see how deeply she was concerned for him, he knew his actions had hurt her but to such an extent he was unaware.

She left the room and sat on the bench outside calming her nerves but the dreadful thought that today something more terrible could have happened to him resulting in her losing him forever scared the living day lights out of her. She failed to understand how could he just for the sake of money and power see his family living under this constant fear of losing him, how could he overlook the worry and concern for him in his Daadi's eyes? And when their child would come into this world would he also have to go through the same?

She was lost in her thoughts when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned her neck and saw aman sitting next to her who had come back with the tiffin box after dropping daadi and payal home. He was himself amazed at the way arnav had behaved in the meeting and said," I can't believe boss would do something like that."

She knotted her brows together on not understanding what he was trying to say, he told her in detail all that had happened. A few days back some farmers had come to Arnav for help, their plot of land had been encroached by a builder. Arnav could never say no to his people of so he set up a meeting with that builder unaware that he would come armed along with his goons, Arnav didn't want to solve the issue through violence therefore offered adequate compensation to the builder to free that plot but he was adamant on not vacating it.

Soon the talks became abusive and before arnav and aman could take the matter in their hands the goons were pointing gun at them. Next as expected things turned bad and as much as arnav didn't want a physical fight broke. Both of them had managed to beat them to a pulp, they were lying at arnav's feet with the gun now in his hand. Aman told him to pull the trigger and shoot, he wrinkled his nose and clenched his jaws hard then dropped down the gun in disgust, he was about to turn when the builder picked up the thrown gun and shot at him, one hit him on right arm and the other passed through his chest. He collapsed and fell down the stairs, seeing this aman got furious and shot the builder dead and took him to the hospital.

Khushi was stunned when she heard the whole tale of events that had taken place, he had done all this for his people and here she was accusing him of being greedy of money and power whereas actually he was using his money and power for the benefit of others. Her eyes widened when she realized that for her sake he had not killed that builder, her words had stopped him from doing so and in fact she should be blamed for his current state. Fresh tears welled up in her eyes and she hated herself for being so rude to him, without giving him a chance to defend himself she hurled accusations at him.

Slowly she opened the door, his eyes were shut may be had gone off to sleep, she didn't know how she would face him once he got up. Without making any noise she went near him, she brushed her fingers lightly over his wounded chest and arm, here he was trying to redeem himself and she instead of supporting him condemned his actions.

She pulled the blanket up to his chin and sat next to him, it killed her to imagine how he must have been shot and the pain he must have gone through afterwards. A tear rolled down her eye and landed on his face, he creased his forehead and opened his eyes. She lowered her head immediately. She didn't have the confidence to meet his eyes, he raised his left hand and pushed back her loose strand of hair that had fallen on her face and which was blocking his view then asked hoarsely," What?"

She closed her eyes firmly and pressed her lower lip hard to prevent herself from crying but couldn't do so and burst into tears," Arnav ji, I'm awful. I hate myself. Without knowing the whole truth I blamed you for everything. I was rude and hurtful to you. For my sake you didn't kill anyone instead..." She couldn't complete what she wanted to say and continued sobbing.

He wiped off the tears off gently with his fingers, he could endure any amount of physical pain but seeing her weeping that too because of him he couldn't bear," Khushi you're not at fault. What decisions I take and the reason behind them, how are you supposed to know."

She lifted her gaze slowly and said," but I should have trusted you. You're changing and instead of being by your side, here I was accusing you for no fault of yours. Why did you remain silent? Why didn't you make me understand?"

He took a deep breath and thought for a while before speaking," fine, then understand one thing. I'm changing however I can't change completely. The people of this town look up to me. They expect a lot from me. I can't leave them and I can't stop fighting for them." He glanced at her belly and added," not even for him."

She nodded her head in agreement, she knew what he meant for the people and she would never refrain him from helping them. She pressed his hand softly and said," let me get you something to eat." He gazed at her lips for a brief moment then blinked his eyes, he was glad that she wasn't crying anymore and was talking to him once again, he preferred to see her lips parted to speak true bitter words rather than being sealed in silence.

She brought a bowl of soup for him, he lifted his left hand which already had a drip and a wire attached to it to monitor his heart beat. She lowered his hand and picked up a spoonful of soup to offer him, he looked at her for a brief moment then opened his mouth to have it, she continued feeding him quietly when he directed the spoon back towards her lips, he knew even she mustn't have had anything. She gave him a small smile and had the soup.

She raised her hand to wipe off a spot of dry soup at the corner of his mouth with her thumb then held the spoon near his lips but he once again moved her hand back to her mouth, this time she had a confused expression on her face, he said in a hushed tone," What will golu think, that we are happily enjoying the soup and have forgotten him?" She giggled on hearing this making him remember the diwali night when her face glowed with similar happiness. For some time he forgot all his physical pain, the fact that he had met with such a serious accident and was admitted in a hospital, everything around him, just her smiling face stayed before his eyes.

Thank you for reading

Rose