Posted:
Chapter 4:
*Khushi's past in blue italics.
**Arnav's past in red italics.
Silence engulfed them. As the chilly wind buzzed passed them, Asha clung to Khushi. Her tiny hands were cold and she didn't like it one bit. All through her five years, she had lived in the hottest places, her summers in Delhi and winters in Chennai. She slipped her one hand into Khushi's and the other into Arnav's.
Arnav looked at the kid in surprise and so did Khushi, who felt a slight tug. She noticed Asha's other hand was held by Arnav and it seemed that it was the most natural thing to do. Both Asha and Arnav looked so much at peace.
That is when the three of them heard a tinkling laughter, a laughter that spoke of innocence, unconstrained happiness and budding joy. A very young girl was thrown up in the air and caught by her father. Her mother stood beside the duo, clicking photos. The girl was shouting "higher appa, higher".
None of them realised that they had stopped walking looking at the sight, each immersed in a longing of their own. A yearning which two of them knew will never be fulfilled nor be forgotten, but the third young heart wanted that, she held her HOPE, after all she was named after that.
"Appa innum mela (Dad, even higher)." These words were accompanied by laughter and cheer. Young Khushi was the happiest in the world. Shashi Gupta had that lovely feeling of being the best father, hearing his daughter's laughter. While Khushi looked intoxicated with happiness, Pooja looked contended standing down, but there was apprehension on her face. She was cheering for her baby sister and Shashi knew, one wrong throw or catch from his part, Pooja will always run to save her "daughter, her dear sister".
Garima Gupta came out hearing the laughter that echoed through. A very satisfied smilespread across her face looking at the trio. Of course, the fragile yet strong mother's heart skipped a beat, every time her daughter was thrown up, but her trust on her husband and his love, thwarted any second thoughts.
"Amma", Garima was pulled out of her thoughts when Pooja came running to her. "Amma I am scared that Khushi might fall down. Tell Appa to stop please." Garima stooped low to her height and held her face, gently easing out the worry that was etched all over her elder daughter's face. "Trust your Appa." This is what Garima had told and these three words seemed to assure Pooja who had by then ran off to her appa. Khushi was now mercilessly being tickled by Shashi and though her heart was here, her mind captured that lovely moment between her mother and her sister.This was painted as the perfect family in her young mind. Soon the four of them laughed their hearts out with young Khushi, the Apple of the family being the centre of attraction.
Khushi was shaken out of her reverie, when she felt a tiny drop land on her fingers. It was Asha's tears. She felt ashamed of herself. Here, stood Asha who was deprived of every possible moment with her parents and she had lost herself to her happy past. She berated herself for being so selfish. But she felt helpless, she was clueless.
Arnav had a very different yearning, a yearning which was never fulfilled. Yes, he had had a mother figure to guide and nurture him. Intially Suni Ma and Welcome Home was his world. It was only when he started going to school, was he exposed to the harsh reality. A reality which crumpled his perfect family. He never knew what a "papa" meant until his friends started asking him. And that is the day, Arnav realised that he was the unwanted child, which is why he was abandoned. Sometimes, his insecurities and yearnings would surface back causing him to get lost in the web of self pity, a feeling he had many times tried to avoid and keep it at bay. But today looking at them, he had got lost in his past.
Arnav glanced at Asha, whose eyes mirrored his longing. The naive girl looked at the picture perfect family in front of her with a long lost expression which made Arnav want to wipe it off. The intensity with which she looked made him shudder and flinch.
Without even paying heed to his thoughts or actions, Arnav swung Asha and in one move threw her up in the sky. The suddeness made Asha shriek, but once she realised what Arnav was upto, she squealed. Khushi looked at the duo, who were now lost in their web of joy, which was very easily woven by Arnav.
For every onlooker, this was the most close knit family. But no one, not even those involved knew that all the three of them shared a similar sorrow and that is why they were bounded together by destiny.
Asha's happiness knew no bounds. The "New uncle" was playing catch and catch with her and that made her joyful. Arnav felt a deep sense of satisfaction every time Asha laughed and to know that he was the reason behind that made him the most happiest man in the world.
He noticed Khushi looking at him with a small smile, her eyes twinkling as she took in Asha's glowing face that was gleaming under the soft rays of the Sun. She was a very beautiful woman with sharp features, but what pulled him towards her, was her eyes. Her eyes had its own story to tell and all he wished to do was, know the reason behind every tale. He could see that she was tired, yet she was smiling every time Asha looked at her. She was dressed in jeans and tops with an over sized jacket. Her hair was tied back in a high ponytail. She had worn no make-up and that is what made her the most beautiful woman on earth.
Just then Asha shouted something which made him come back to the present and to his senses. He was shocked at the course of his thoughts. He admonished himself silently.
As he let Asha down, she asked him to bend low to her height and hugged him tight. She then placed a kiss on his cheeks and whispered a "thank you".
This gesture touched him. Her "thank you" affected him too deeply since he had never come across a girl of her age who had thanked him for anything without any elders prompting. "Was her longing so deep rooted?", he mused.
The three of them continued their journey when Arnav's phone rang.
"Hello Anji."
"Hey Karishma, kaise ho? (Hey Karishma, how re you?)"
"Accha main bhi tujhe bahuth miss kar raha hoon.(I miss you too.)"
"Jaldi aa jaunga baby. Haan dhed saare chocolates ke saath. Bye. I love you. (I will come soon baby. Yeah with so many chocolates. Bye. I love you.)"
"Haan Anji, bolo. (Yes Anji, tell.)"
"Mein teek hoon. Wahan sab kaise hain?(I am fine. How are everyone there?)"
"Good. Chal I will call you later. Bye. Take care."
"Aapko bhi Hindi pata hain? (You too know hindi?)", came a surprised Asha's question. Arnav turned to look at the bundle of innocence before him and nodded in a slight yes.
"Mujhe bhi pata hain.(Even I know)"
"Accha? That is nice. Tujhe kaise pata hain? (Is it? That is nice. How do you know?)"
"Mein Delhi mein rehti thi. (I was living in Delhi only.)" And before Asha could reveal further, Khushi had changed the course of the conversation which had made Arnav forget that tiny detail for the time being.
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Two hours later, Arnav found him self to be still lost in the happenings of the day. The rain had cut short their journey and they were forced to return. Arnav had waved bye at both and had not gone too far, when he had heard Asha calling out to him. He had turned to look at a breathless Asha, followed by a slightly confused Khushi.
"Yes Asha?"
"Aap mere dost banoge? (You will be my friend?)", she had asked him with uncertainty and hope. He had been both surprised and shocked at her sudden question. Taking his silence to be a NO, the girl had turned away in dejection.
"Yes", he had called back. The smile on Asha's face had taken away his breath. She had brought out her small hands for a formal handshake as if inaugurating their friendship.
"Friends?"
"Yes princess", he had shook her hand with utmost love for her and had kissed her cheeks. She had then waved at him and ran away to Khushi, who had still been wearing a confused expression.
He had not done anything fruitful that day,yet the contentment his heart felt was beyond anything he had ever experienced, all through his life.
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Anjali looked at the photo and the members in the picture who were once upon a time called as her family. It was a picture which was taken before the terrorist attack. Her family was always happy and joyful, until tragedy struck. After the tragedy, she was afraid and justifiably confused. She had been rescued and handed over to the police. She was then handed over to the orphanage which had welcomed her with open arms especially Arnav. He had been the mother, she loved, the father, she adored and the brother, she never had. He had managed to wipe off her unhappy moments. Initially, she remembered those days when she had cried for her parents. She had sobbed and prayed to God pleading him to take her to her parents. She had had nightmares of that fateful day when her parents had died right in front of her eyes and she couldn't do anything but look at them, hoping that they get up and hold her. Arnav and Suni Ma's combined love had slowly helped her to relieve herself of her torments.
She wasn't weeping now, looking at the picture. Those were happy memories of her past and she only had a hazy memory of those events. This was her family now and she was more than happy to accept them and love them to her heart's content. This photo was just a fond and a cherished memory. She had learnt to live and live happily. She had no complaints about her life. She just hoped that Arnav too would find his ocean of love soon, since she knew his misgivings about his past.
She wanted his lighting love to enter his life.
With this in mind, she went to sleep beside Karishma, who was waiting for her bua to tell her stories.
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