Last Chapter
The dreary night chipped away, the dark night seemed frightening to him. It threatened him,...threatened to swallow him.
The dark night peeking through the fluttering curtains.
The full moon standing proud against all the glistening stars.
He looked at the cupboard"She sat in there, frightened like a little kitten
His gaze landed on the mirror----she stood there, combing her hair, straightening her dress, applying the vermilion in her partition----hastily. And as she did that, she complained how besharam he had been last night to catch her wrist and drag her to their room while she was having a conversation about achaar with her Jiji. How it was so rude of him to stop her mid sentence. She stood in the room, wanting to knock some sense in his head. He saw her rosy cheeks turning more crimson as she chided him for leaving his mark on her soft skin. How Rakshash of him to do all these things to her. "Does every married couple do this?" She had asked him. How does he tell this innocent little thing that whatever he does with her is nothing as compared to the "things" he had fantasized about her. Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada had no idea what a sinful husband her Devi Maiya had bestowed on her. She went on and on about her torn Kameez, her beautiful dupatta being ripped, how every next day she has to sit and sew her torn clothes...
The repeated banging of the windows wretched him away from the beautiful memories of his wife
His face adorning a dazed smile looked at the fluttering windows and then again towards the mirror. And he felt like a splash of cold water was thrown on him. He was dragged away from his beautiful memories and landed in the barren and ugly world.
The hand holding the glass containing the amber liquid shook, his vision became blurry, the legs trembled.
"Khushi..."his lips broke into a prayer.
Like it did every night.
What was the difference today?
Nothing!
Despite of his silent prayer every day, nothing changes. She no longer jumps on him at the tiniest hint of mice in the room, she no longer berates him on his besharamness, she no longer stands against the mirror to scold him for his sins, she no longer hands him his clothes, she no longer brings her delicious food for him, she no longer stands silently as he scolds her for not taking care of her, she no longer gives him that smile which has the power to vanish his all tiredness of the day.
Arnav walked towards his bed and fell flat on his stomach, the inebriated eyes drooping
"Khushi?..." he lifted his head, his eyes meandering around the room.
The cupboard!
The mirror!
The floor!
Everything described his helplessness. Everything mocked him for living in this room without the one who had made this small space his personal heaven.
" Khushi...I...I am drowning..It's scary down there...hold me...like always.. hold my hand, Khushi...I will fall..." his red and plastered eyes searched for the familiar figure who always runs to catch him, even before he calls for her.
Then why not today?
" You will not come, right?...don't come...go...You also go away...You also leave me like everyone leaves me.." he rolled, and now lay on his back. He closed his eyes, the tears spilling out. He has no control on them. He has no control on his damned life.
As he lay there, drowning in his own grief, he felt a weight on his chest.
Arnav opened his heavy eyelids to look at his chest. His nine months old son lay there, glued to his chest. His tiny hands circled around his neck, trying to tighten his hold there. Arnav lifted his right hand to hold his son there.
" No...I will not fall...You don't worry...Till your mother has left the tiniest of hope, I will not fall...Don't you worry...by the way...thanks for holding me..." Arnav ran his hand on Aryan's back.
Aryan lifted his head from his father's chest to look at him.
"Pooh..." his head dipped forward, as if wanting to say something.
"What?" Arnav looked at his Son, confused.
"Pooh...Pooh..." Aryan repeated his action.
Arnav looked at him confused. And as if his Son knew his father's incapability in understanding his language, he leaned forward and kissed the tear that had rolled down his cheek.
A fresh batch of tears took their route, making Arnav's vision blurry.
" I am not crying...it's just that something went in my eyes.." Arnav wiped his tears and a perturbed look took over his face as he looked at his son. " By the way may I tell you something?...You should have been a girl...You are just like your mother...her complexion, her eyes, soft soft like her, fragile hands like her...If you turned to be chui mui like her than what will I do?" Aryan giggled, as if understanding what his father had just said.
A small smile played on Arnav's lips as he took in his Son's giggling face.
" You are laughing?...when everyone will laugh at you than I will see how you giggle...come on sleep now...or are you hungry?..." Arnav asked.
Aryan again kept his head on his father's chest, denying his proposal.
Tightening his hold on Aryan, Arnav too closed his eyes, again shamelessly asking the slumber to have some mercy.
" Khushi, hold my hand"
" will die"
"get up"
"I will not feed him"
"I will not take care"
"Will starve him"
" Your son will be left alone"
" Don't leave me Khushi"
"I don't want to die"
" Want to live with you"
" Don't leave me, Khushi"
" Come back, Khushi"
" I don't like anything."
" Come back"
" Come back, Khushi"
Her subconscious mind played every word like a record, one after the other every word screamed inside in her head. The voice grew louder ... threatening... pleading... begging... helpless... desperate...urgent...the voice splintered...
" Come back Khushi"
And she tried...she tried to come back, she tried to travel the dark tunnel ahead...to reach the other side...the side from where the voices were coming.
" Come back for your Son, Khushi"
Her hands shook, the weight on her chest grew heavier, ready to burst. She tried to fight the darkness. She don't like darkness. She wants to reach the other side.
He was calling her.
And she wanted to reach him.
"Khushi..."
"Arnav..." she breathed
"Khushi!!!"
Arnav's eyes jerked open. His heart thudding inside his chest, ready to burst out. Beads of perspiration flowed down his face.
"Khushi..." Arnav whispered, ready to jump out of the bed but immediately getting aware of the weight on his chest.
Picking his son off his chest, he laid him down on the bed.
Getting up from the bed, he hastily searched for his cell, and before he can locate his cell, his cell came alive.
Picking up his phone, he kept it on his ear.
"Hello.." Arnav said in the phone.
"Hello. Mr.Raizada?" the person on the other side asked.
"Ji...Aap kaun?" Arnav asked.
"Mr.Raizada I am calling from hospital. I have called you to inform that your wife, Mrs. Khushi..."
Arnav dropped the phone. The tremor like never felt before sipping inside and squeezing the life out of him. He don't want to hear further. What if...What if they told...No! He paled, white like a ghost. She can't leave him. He struggled to draw breath, his chest hurting. His vision blanked as he sat on the bed with a thud. His palm fisting the mattress.
" No...She won't leave me...She had promised me...She can't leave me"
"Pooh...pooh..." Aryan rolled towards his father, calling him softly.
Arnav looked at his son, his vision unclear, making him aware of his tears flowing down freely.
"Aryan...Khushi..." Arnav picked his son, tightly holding him against his chest.
" Khushi...Aryan we have to go...we have to go to your mother" Arnav got up, seeking strength from the innocent bundle.
...
Arnav wiped his tears to make his vision clear. He looked at the long corridor ahead, not a single soul present there. He dragged his trembling leg towards her room.
"Pooh..pooh.." Aryan looked at his father, caressing his face with his soft hands.
Arnav's hand reached for the doorknob, the easy task of pushing the door demanding his whole energy.
"Pooh..." Aryan squealed happily seeing his mother. He started jumping in Arnav's arm, wanting to go near his mother.
Arnav looked at Khushi. She was still sleeping. His confused gaze roamed inside the room. Then why had that Doctor called him? He again looked at Khushi's sleeping figure. Anger bubbled inside him for the Doctor. Ready to blast at the Doctor, he turned around... only to stop dead in his track.
"Arnav ji ..."
Arnav stood there, his back facing Khushi. His breath hitched. Has he imagined her voice?...Arnav stood there, no strength left to turn around. What if he had really imagined that?
"Pooh...Pooh...Pooh..." the squeal turned louder. Aryan looked at his mother over his father's shoulder. "Pooh..." his soft hand patted Arnav's rough cheek, as if telling him to turn around.
"Arnav ji ...Aryan..."
The choked voice of Khushi reached Arnav. A shuddering breath left his body in a hurry as he turned around.
"Khushi..."his throat hurt. Holding Aryan with great difficulty, as his hands were ready to fell lifeless to his side. Before his senses could give up, he walked towards her.
"Khushi..." Arnav sat beside her and as his hold on his son loosened, his son crawled to his mother and climbed on her. As everytime, he kept his head on her bosom and tried to circle his tiny hands around his mother.
Khushi's weak hands immediately rose to hold her son close to her chest.
" Aryan...my baby...my baby, Arnav ji" Khushi sobbed, crushing her son close to her.
"Khushi..." Arnav's hand lifted to touch her cheek.
Khushi lifted her eyes to look at the man sitting in front of her. Her hand lifted to rest on his hand and she brought his hand close to her lips.
And that did it! The dam broke.
Arnav buried his face in the crook of her neck, sobbing like a child. The months of held tears, the broken trust, the deceive, the helplessness , misery, the accusations...all finding solace in her embrace.
Khushi ran her fingers in his hair.
" Shhh...calm down, Arnav ji" Khushi's soft and weak voice tried to sooth his months of pain.
But Arnav stayed there, murmuring how he was deceived by his own Khushi, how he was once again left all alone, how life was trying to eat him without her, how miserable he was without her, how he was dying without her, how he threatened, pleaded, begged her to get up, but she didn't.
"..shh...Arnav ji ...Forgive me..." all she can do is apologize to him.
Arnav lifted his head.
"Forgive you?...Forgive you?...Do you have any idea how I was living without you?...Khushi,...You know that I can't live without you...Still...Still you were ready to leave me...Why, KHUSHI?!! Why?!!" Arnav shouted, all the emotions overwhelming him.
Khushi stared at him for a moment, not replying to his any query. She looked down at her son, who was clinging to her, his face buried in her chest. Lifting her weak and shaky hands, she lifted Aryan's face to look at him. Kissing his forehead she made him face Arnav.
" Look at him, Arnav ji ...our son...Aryan...Doctor said , if I keep him then there will be complications...And if I want to save my life then..I ...I will have to..to..." Khushi's voice broke, unable to use those word for her child. "How could I have chosen my life above my son's, Arnav ji ...How" his teary eyes looked at Arnav.
Arnav bend over her, cupping her face between his palm.
"...But why didn't you tell me Khushi?...Why?" his thumb caressed her face.
" If I would have told you that, you would have allowed me to keep him?" Khushi asked, ...and the silence greeted her, and it answered her question, too.
" You would have not allowed me, Arnav ji ...that's why I didn't tell you...How can I ...?..." Khushi sobbed.
" Shhh...quiet, Khushi.." Arnav whispered unable to see her crying.
"But you didn't allowed me to go away...you dragged me back..." Khushi smiled through her tears.
Arnav's lips broke in to a smile.
" I have told you...It doesn't matter wherever you go, I will bring you back.." Arnav answered. " Nobody can separate you from me" Arnav pecked her soft lips.
"Pooh..Pooh.." Aryan demanded some attention.
Khushi looked at her son, bringing his face close to her, she showered his face with kisses.
" My baby...You know na that I am your mother?" Khushi asked him.
Aryan looked at his mother, just staring at her sweet face.
Khushi looked at her son, confused. Her questioning eyes looked at Arnav.
Arnav smiled.
" He has never seen your eyes...so he is staring into your lovely eyes..." Arnav replied to her questioning gaze.
Khushi looked at her son, who was still staring at her. Her lips broke into a beautiful smile as she plastered him against her chest.
" My Aryan" Khushi kissed his hair.
"Khushi..."
Arnav and Khushi looked at the door as the feminine voice reached them.
"Jiji..." Khushi smiled.
Arnav's smiling eyes instantly turned cold. He stood up from the bed.
"Khushi..." Payal ran towards her Khushi.
" Khushi, how are you?...You are fine?...You don't know how happy I am...Thank God that you got up...How are you Khushi?" Payal's teary eyes looked at Khushi.
"Main.."
" Who called you here?" Arnav asked, his words and tone rude.
Payal looked at Arnav and immediately stood off the bed.
" Ji...That...Doctor had called at home...He told that you kept the phone without listening to him" Payal replied.
Khushi looked at Arnav and then at her Jiji.
" Arnav ji why are you behaving so rudely with Jiji?" Khushi asked, her gaze asking millions of question.
" Khushi, ...It's nothing..." Payal stammered.
"Arnav ji ?" Khushi demanded an answer.
" Do not Arnav ji' me?...I don't want this woman here...It will be better if she goes away from here.." Arnav replied.
Khushi's shocked wide eyes looked at Arnav.
"Arnav ji , what are you..." and then it dawned on her the reason of his rude behavior. Her Jiji was the only one who knew everything about her complications.
" Arnav ji ? You..."
"Yes, I don't want your Jiji near you or our Son..." Arnav's eyes accused Payal. " She wanted a child, right?... And she thought that you will give her one...But I can't let that happen...I never allowed her to even touch Aryan" Arnav gave his explanation.
Khushi's scandalized eyes stared at Arnav.
" Arnav ji what are you telling?...Have you gone mad?...It's not like that...She kept quiet just because of me...How can you think like that?"
" Khushi, you don't know..."Arnav started only to be cut off by Khushi.
" I know everything Arnav ji" Khushi looked at her crying Jiji.
"Jiji..." Khushi forwarded her child towards her.
Payal immediately took a step towards her, a beautiful smile blooming on her face.
"Khushi.." Arnav's voice warned her.
Khushi looked at Arnav silencing him with her gaze.
Payal took Aryan in her arms. Her hungry eyes took in his tiny features. She showered kisses on every visible skin.
"Aryan.." Payal sobbed, her chest ready to burst with happiness.
Khushi smiled and looked at her sulking Arnav ji , who stood beside her bed. Catching his hand, she pulled him to sit beside her.
" Arnav ji , Payal Jiji loves me and Aryan equally..." Khushi tried to put his restlessness to rest.
Arnav gave her a barely noticeable nod and took her hand in his.
...
Arnav closed the door as every member left their room after asking Khushi's health. He moved towards the bed where his wife sat with her son on her lap.
"Aryan, sleep baby" Khushi patted his head.
Arnav sat on the bed , facing Khushi.
"Khushi?" Arnav called.
"Ji.." Khushi lifted her head to look at him.
"Khushi...I...I..."Arnav struggled.
" You love me" Khushi smiled. " I know that"
" Khushi...I...I..can't"
" You can't live without me...I know that, too.." She smiled again.
"Still you chose to leave me!" Arnav shouted, unable to digest that she was all ready to leave him, that she had chose someone else over him.
"Don't shout Arnav ji ...Aryan will wake up.." Khushi said softly.
She laid Aryan on the bed, and inching closer to Arnav, she caught his hand.
"I wasn't leaving you Arnav ji ...Aryan was there with you...the little baby we made together..." Khushi replied, smiling.
Arnav's shoulder slumped. He was tiered. He needed rest. Lying on the bed he kept his head on Khushi's lap.
Khushi smiled and brought his head closer to her tummy, running her fingers in his hair.
" Now don't you ever leave me Khushi" Arnav begged.
Khushi's eyes filled with tears, hugging his face close to her tummy, she replied.
" Never Arnav ji ..: Khushi promised.
Arnav closed his eyes, finding solace in his Khushi's arm.
Finally, after long wait of nine months, he was home.
I hope you liked this story. Do let me know what you thought of this story <3
Edited by -NatureLover- - 9 years ago
Cricket
CID
278