Chapter 7:
Banner credits: mints23 I love it!!!!
**Flashback In blue italics.
If Arnav had thought that Khushi's eyes were the mirror to her soul, then Arnav's was no less. His every action showed his thoughts and his concern. At that moment, all that mattered was "her". He could directly see her vulnerable self peeking out from the strong woman facade she had very convincingly played till then. The blaring horn made them both realise their surroundings and how close they were standing.
She looked anywhere but him. Her eyes wandered around to find the unknown. His soft voice made her look at him.
"We will return Khushi."
"No, we will finish this off today."
Arnav nodded unsure of what to expect. He never expected his day to turn like this. He was so sure his day was bound to be a good one, when it had started. But his confidence was slowly oozing out. He took a deep calming breath and continued, hoping that his day wouldn't turn worse.
A few minutes later, he could still see that she was lost in her thoughts. She was just not herself and he could clearly note that. He just didn't know what to do. He ran a frustrating hand over his hair. "Why is this girl being so stubborn?"
"Khushi." There was absolutely no response from her. She kept walking. "Khushi?", even as he shouted, she remained lost. His anger was increasing with every passing minute. He shook her by her shoulders and she blinked at him in surprise.
"Um Arnav?"
"What the hell Khushi? Do you even realise where you are going? I told you right we can get back? Then why the hell are you being so stubborn?"
"Nothing like that Arnav", her meek response was a clear indication that she was slowly coming back to the present.
"I clearly know I asked a question which I shouldn't have and I even told you not to answer it, if you don't wish to. Then why Khushi?"
"That question had nothing to do with what happened."
"Oh really? Do you think I am blind? I am sorry I am not and from the time I asked you that question, you have been like this. I know you are still guiding me towards the park, only because you want to push me out of your life soon."
At her silence, he continued,
"I don't know what even happened in your life. But get everything out of your heart girl. Go to your parents, tell them what's troubling you. Get this out."
Without even thinking of where they were, Khushi shouted back, "I have no one. Do you get that? Do you think I will be here, in this place with Asha, leaving behind my family? No I won't. I do not have anyone. I do not have a Karishma, or a Payal or a Anji. You have them, I do not and just because you have a family, it doesn't mean I have one too." Tears streamed down her angry face and her fingers did nothing to stop them. She didn't care that he was seeing her in that terrible state. All that mattered was, she had to GET THAT OUT, just like he had told. But she had no one.
"To whom do you think I will tell? To Asha? To that little girl who despite losing her own parents, is trying to make me smile? Despite losing her grandparents, she never, not once questions me about them. To her? I am sorry I can't and I won't."
If Arnav had been shocked when she had revealed Asha was not her daughter, he was stunned into silence now. Words refused to come out and he didn't know what to say. She didn't expect him to reply.
The roaring thunder interrupted her. The loud pitter patter followed soon. The rains had always been a significant part of her life. It had showered when she had lost her family and when she had met him too, for the first time. Today, it marked the beginning of something profound.
"Do you even know how it is to wake up to a happy morning amidst your family and sleep with just one tiny part of that big family? No, you don't. But I know. Do you know how painful it is to see the very kid who was the light of the family, stand alone without anyone? No, you don't. So, don't you dare accuse me of something I can't and I am unable to do." With that, she turned around to go back, when she stopped short. They both were drenched, but they hardly cared. Today, words were to be spoken and emotions were to be unleashed.
"Do you even know how happy I was today morning and how much I was looking forward to it? No, you don't."
She walked away not giving him a chance to respond. What could he even tell her?
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He looked at her retreating back. His mind was finding it very difficult to process the happenings. Now, he felt he had been highly insensitive. He couldn't imagine Asha living without her parents. She had been smiling and hiding her sorrow behind that curve. She was hardly six, yet she was Khushi's emotional support. He felt that his past was nowhere close to what she had experienced. He was in awe of the two women, who had been the guiding light in each other's life. Both had experienced the harsh realities of life, which anyone shouldn't have, at an early part of their life. Life had definitely been cruel to them. It had snatched their hope and happiness, overnight. Yet, these two had survived. He just wished he could wipe away those bad pages of their life. He hoped that he was made to meet them, only to take them under his ocean of Happiness.
If Her outburst revealed her secrets, then her parting line seemed like a confession. It still haunted him and it was forcing him to think astray. What did she mean by those words? Was she attracted to him? All these questions plagued his mind and he vowed to get the answers soon.
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Her puffy eyes and red nose clearly indicated that she had been crying. Asha was still in the school, which prevented her from seeing Khushi in that state. She had poured her heart out for the first time and it had been only to him. She stood their looking at the lonely road. The lashing of the rains against the windows could be clearly heard. Her mind wandered back to the morning. She still couldn't believe that she had spoken to him about her innermost feelings. That very moment she had realised that she had still not moved on in her life, as she had assumed. There was still a part of her that was clinging on to those painful memories. Every moment was a realisation. Till yesterday, she never knew his significance in her life. There was this attraction she had been fighting off, but she had no clue that it was to this extent. It had really pricked her heart, when he at first, had thought that she wanted to push him away. Secondly, his accusations were her undoing. It had hurt her, that he had assumed that she would separate Asha from her own parents. Did he think she was that selfish? She did not know what made her utter those last few words. It still rang in her ears and she was sure that a flash of surprise had crossed his face on hearing that. Maybe he had nothing to do with her. Maybe he was not attracted to her. Maybe she was assuming things. But his earlier words and his concern could not be denied. His gaze had been unbelievably caring and soothing. She did not know why, but it felt good to know that someone still cared for her, that too after a long time. She swallowed the huge lump that formed at the base of her throat as that fateful day crossed her mind.
He really meant something to me, she thought. If not, she was highly sure, she wouldn't have bared her heart to him. Yes, she had shouted at him. But in that process she had conveyed what he did not know and what he had to. "Why did I tell that to him? Why did my resistance crumble before him? Can a small attraction be the reason for this?" Her eyes had dried up, but her mind still was not at peace. She was confused and tired. She felt drained out. She closed her eyes hoping to get a clear head.
"Khushi? Are you awake?", she asked her.
"Hmm?", she replied back, still half asleep. Her eyes were still closed.
"I need to tell you something."
"Um tell Pooja. I am highly sleepy."
"It is about Raahul. You know he um", she stuttered.
"He did what? Did he propose to you?", she joked.
"What? How do you know? He told you, didn't he?", Pooja asked her.
"What? What are you even saying? You mean to say he really did propose to you? Oh my God! Am I dreaming? Maybe I am still sleeping?", she mumbled when Pooja pinched her.
"Aah mad girl. What did you tell him?"
"I told him I need time."
"Time? Enna yes or no nu solla time venuma? Ithulam konjam over than. (Time? You want time to tell a yes or no? This is too much re.) Do you love him?"
"I don't know re. I like him. But love is a strong word. It has a lot of feeling attached to it. I am confused. And there is also Appa (Dad)."
"Follow what your heart says", was Khushi's last words before she drifted into her dream world.
Khushi woke up with a start. She did not know she had slept off. She looked at the clock, only to realise that it was half past four. "Asha! Goodness. How can I be so careless?", she berated herself. She decided to call her school teacher at once. Just then, she heard Asha's voice and another male voice. Arnav's. She looked out of the window to find them both playing frisbee. She relaxed knowing that Asha was safe. But her heartbeat refused to slow down. She was not prepared to meet him. It was true that her sleep had brought her some peace. She still remembered how Pooja had thanked her for those words. They were three simple words, yet the value they held cannot be worded. She had to face him. So, praying one last time, she opened the door.
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Click of the Day:
Author's Note:
This is where I am leaving you guys. Just so you know, this story is nearing its end. So, you can all breathe a sigh of relief.
This is to those who feel I am rushing through. One thing I have found out in this process is my inability to write long updates. I can't even write people's emotions. N (Fe-en-dios) had correctly pointed out in the beginning itself. She had told that my writing is short and crisp. Crisp is the word here. I can't seriously write emotions and that is why this chapter was extremely difficult for me to write. Hopefully, with One or two chapters, I will end this story.
I would still be happy, if you guys do tell me How this chapter has turned out to be.
This chapter is dedicated to all my wonderful readers. To name a few, barsha_dash, -IPK-Forever (I miss this girl), N, Anu567, mints23, canapoem, pravillika, chinnulu, shalbi, sukanksha, rk2127, akai, Alicia2012, NASAKE, candy1990, newmoon18, christi002, trivia, nia07, sudhareddy, sunitakapoor, latersbaby, LadyHitler, Lechuarshi, YaSha0512, Arshihamesha, shalini.ranjan, wardamatloob01. I know I have missed out few names and I sincerely apologize. I had no intention to. I didn't do it deliberately. So, please don't mistake me. To those names I have missed out, a big hug and a sorry.
Finally, I am here to clarify all your queries. So, you can ask me whatever you want and get it clarified. Hope to meet you all soon.Ciao! Happy weekend.
Thank you!
Edited by Sadh123 - 9 years ago
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