ArShi OS : PLEASE BE WITH ME

PLEASE BE WITH ME

Arnav was still in shock. He had not yet come out of the shock of Anjali's death. He was in a trance. The images of Anjali breathing her last in front of him kept appearing in his mind. The shock of her death was unbearable for Arnav.

Everyone reached home after performing the last rites. All got out of the car, except Arnav. He was present there physically, but not mentally. His mind was somewhere else. He was still in shock. His body was numb, his mind senseless. Khushi watched him. She knew what he was going through at the moment. Khushi's fate was just too cruel to her. Just when Arnav had begun to realise his feelings for Khushi, Anjali met with a horrifying accident while returning from the temple and she just left so suddenly leaving Arnav in the condition he was, alive yet dead.

"Bhai, chalo baahar niklo..." said Akash. Come, get down...

But Arnav didn't move. He didn't seem to hear anything. He didn't seem to understand anything.

"Arnav... come Chhote..." Nani tried to tell him to get down the car. But there was no effect on him.

Everyone was trying to talk to him. Khushi watched all this from a distance. She herself was in shock. Whom should she console... Arnav or herself?! Tears had dried on her cheeks. Afterall, how much can anyone cry?! There were no more tears left to be dropped down. Arnav's love for Anjali was beyond everything... Khushi had seen it now... She felt a void in her heart... The place for Arnav in her heart was empty... Arnav could never be caged in her heart... His love for his dear sister was incomparable... Until a couple of days ago, Khushi was expecting and eagerly waiting for the day when Arnav would confess his love for her... But now she knew the day would not come soon... Now everything had changed... Khushi just cursed her fate... But then she saw Arnav. His condition was painful. He had not spoken a word after Anjali's death. Nor had he cried. Nothing... He was just silent... This silence was disturbing Khushi. She knew he needed her...

Everyone was trying to tell Arnav to come out of the car. But no one could get him out. Khushi went ahead past everyone else. She went in and sat beside Arnav. He was staring into the empty space. Khushi placed her hand over his. "Arnav ji..." she whispered. "Chaliye... andar chaliye..." she said as gently as she could. Come, let's go inside.

Arnav looked at her... How could he deny her pleading eyes! Both got down the car. Khushi held her hand around his waist, his had rounded her shoulder. Khushi placed her other hand on his chest as both walked inside the home. Others followed. Arnav was still lost. Khushi took him to their bedroom. Everyone else too went in.

Khushi made Arnav sit on the bed. She placed the pillow upright so that he could lean back on it. Everyone was worried for Arnav looking at his condition. He was psychologically disturbed. Khushi was staring at him... His condition was worsening by the moment.

Akash filled a glass with water and held over to Arnav. "Bhai, thoda paani pee lo..." he said. Drink some water...

Arnav didn't react.

Khushi took the glass from Akash. She held Arnav's chin gently with her hand and brought the glass to his lips. "Arnav ji..." she said.

Arnav's eyeballs moved slightly. Khushi tried to force water into his mouth but he held his lips tight together. Khushi was scared now... She was scared for Arnav. Will he ever be able to come back to normal...? This question was constantly troubling her. Not only Khushi, everyone was worried... everyone was tensed.

After all her efforts in vain, Khushi placed the glass on the side table. She pulled up a chair and sat beside the cot. She held Arnav's hand tight in both her palms. He was just sitting there, lifeless... Everyone stared at Arnav helplessly... There was silence for a moment, only sobs were audible... Sobs of Nani... sobs of Mami... Payal was shocked. Though tears were not seen, Mama and Akash were crying at hearts. All the efforts of making Arnav speak or cry... all were in vain.

Finally Nani spoke... "We will leave Arnav alone for some time... Let him be by himself... Let him rest..."

No one wanted to leave Arnav alone in that condition, especially Khushi. But there wasn't any use staying there too... Everyone turned to leave.

Khushi got up to leave, loosening her grip on Arnav's palm. Arnav suddenly tightened his grip on her hand. "You wait here... please" he whispered weakly.

Khushi looked back. Everyone stopped at their places. Arnav was still staring into nowhere... Khushi looked at Nani. She nodded to tell Khushi to wait with Arnav.

Khushi stood there as the others left... She turned to Arnav. He had held her hand tightly.

"Arnav ji... please say something..." she said in a pleading voice as her eyes filled with tears. His grip on her hand tightened as a tear fell off his eye. "Arnav ji..." Khushi said again.

And now the wall that held back Arnav's emotions broke down. He just put his hand around Khushi's waist digging his head into her belly and cried his heart out. Khushi was stunned at her place. She didn't know how to console him. He was crying like a child. His whole body was shivering. Khushi gently weaved her hand through his hair. She rubbed his back constantly. She could not control her tears now. "Arnav ji..." she said. "Everything will be fine..." Though she said it, she had no idea how that was going to happen... She would have even brought Anjali back for Arnav if it was possible... But that was not going to happen... Anjali was never going to come back...

Khushi just stood there. Arnav had still not loosened the embrace. He had stopped crying but she could feel his sobs. His body was still shivering. Khushi held him tight. He gradually calmed down. He was still holding her tightly. Both didn't say a word. They were silent.

After sometime, Arnav completely calmed down. He was breathing normally. Khushi could feel it. She loosened her grip over him. But he still held her tight. Khushi saw that Arnav had fallen asleep. But he was not ready to leave her. With great effort, she relieved herself from his grip and lay him on the bed. She covered him with a blanket. Sitting beside him looking at his innocent face, she moved her hand across his forehead. "Sab theek ho jaayega Arnav ji... Everything will be fine soon..." she whispered.

There was a tap on the door. Nani pushed open the door. Khushi saw her worried face and went towards her. Placing her hand on Nani's shoulder, she said... "Nani ji, aap fikar mut keejiye... Arnav ji theek hain... He is fine... don't worry... Aur phir main hoon na unke saath... I am there with him"

Nani just looked at Arnav. He was asleep.

Mami came there too. "Arnav bitwa...!" she wanted to talk to her dear Arnav.

"Mami ji, he is asleep... He is fine..." Khushi assured her. "Don't worry... I am there with him... nothing will happen to him...!" she said.

"Uss ka khayaal rakhna bitiya... Please take care of him..." said Nani.

Khushi nodded. Nani and Mami left.

Khushi sat on the sofa beside the bed. She was feeling sleepy. But her sleep was disturbed by the Arnav's sobs. She went and sat beside him. He was sobbing in sleep. She gently rubbed her hand over his chest and head. The night passed away.

*****

Arnav slightly opened his eyes. The broad daylight was troubling him. "Khushi..." he whispered. She didn't reply. "Khushi...!" he called out. Now he sat up, completely opening his eyes. He looked around for Khushi. She was not there in the room. Now he was scared. "Khushiii...!!!!" he cried out loudly.

Khushi was in the kitchen preparing breakfast for Arnav. She heard the scream and was worried. What must have happened? Others were worried too. Khushi hastened to their bedroom. Others too went after her.

"Arnav ji?!" said Khushi as she hurried into the room. "What happened?"

Arnav's heart was beating fast. He felt great relief on seeing Khushi... "Khushi!!" he said as she came to him. He just hugged her, without thinking of the others present there.

Khushi was confused. Others were confused too. "What happened Arnav ji?!" asked Khushi parting from him. He just nodded to say "nothing". But Khushi could sense his scare. The beads of sweat on his forehead clearly spoke of it. He seemed lost. "Arnav ji, are you alright?" she asked again.

"Aan?!" said Arnav, lost. "Haan... yeah..." he said, "yeah...!" He sat on the bed with his legs folded. He was restless.

"You freshen up... I will get breakfast for you" said Khushi.

"No!!" Arnav cried. "Tum kahin mut jaana... please wait here... please...!" he said holding her hand.

Khushi tried to speak..."But Arnav ji"

"Please..." he said again.

Khushi wasn't able to understand Arnav's behaviour.

"Payal bitiya..." said Nani, indicating Payal to bring breakfast for Arnav. Payal nodded and went away.

"Arnav bitwa, are you alright?" asked Mami.

Arnav just nodded looking away. He held Khushi's hand close.

Payal brought the breakfast.

Arnav denied eating anything. "I don't want it"

"Arnav ji, please have something..." said Khushi.

"No... mujhe kuchh nahi khaana hai... I don't want to eat anything... I don't want all this...!" he was frustrated. "Kuchh nahi chahiye mujhe...!! Jo main chahta hoon, sab mujhse door ho jaata hai...!! All that I want, all that I love is taken away... Now I don't want anything... I don't want you!! Sun rahi ho na tum...!! Main tumhein nahi chahta...!! I don't love you!! Do you understand that?!!" he cried. "I hate you!! I just hate you!!!" He was breathless. He was breathing hard. "I hate you...!!" he whispered. He was still holding her hand close to his heart.

Khushi understood every feeling of his... she understood the reason behind every word of his... She knew he was afraid that she would leave him too one day...

"Arnav ji.." she said, "Main jaanti hoon... I know..."

Arnav calmed down.

"Now please eat something... please?" Khushi said.

Arnav didn't eat anything but he drank some juice. He was feeling exhausted. He was feeling weak, physically as well as mentally. "I want some sleep..." he said looking at Khushi.

"Okay... take rest..." she said. Khushi held the plate and glass in her hand to take it with her.

"Khushi..." said Arnav, "Will you please wait here?"

Khushi was unable to understand... But she waited there as he slept.

The day passed away. It was night. Arnav was asleep. Khushi had not been able to take bath since morning. She decided to take bath before sleeping.

Arnav had a bad dream and he suddenly woke up, covered in sweat. Khushi was nowhere to be seen. "Khushiii!!" he cried. "Where are you?! Khushii..!" his voice was wet.

Khushi immediately came out after bath quickly putting on her clothes. "Arnav ji...! Arnav ji I am right here!!" she said going near him.

Arnav was scared, tensed. His eyes were wet with tears and his body with sweat. He held Khushi's hands in his and began crying. "Khushi, tum mujhe chhod ke toh nahi jaaogi na...?" he said. You won't leave me, right? Before Khushi could say anything, Arnav continued "Di toh mujhe chhod ke chali gayi... Ab main tumhein nahi khona chahta... Main phir akela ho jaaunga... Never leave me alone..." he said as tears rolled down his cheeks. Di left me. I don't want to lose you. I will be alone again. Never leave me alone. He didn't let Khushi speak... "M..m...main jaanta hoon... Tum Di jaisi nahi ho. You are..."

"Arnav ji!" Khushi cut in. She took him in her embrace. "I believe in you Arnav... Main aap ko jaanti hoon... Achhe se jaanti hoon... I understand you..."

"Khushi, mai tumhein chaahe jo bhi kahun, mujhe kabhi galat mut samajhna... Whatever I might say to you, How much ever I might trouble you... Please dont get me wrong... Tum jaanti ho mujhe tumhaari zaroorat hai... You know I need you..." said Arnav.

"Haan jaanti hoon... " said Khushi "... aur galat fehmi ki koi gujaaish hi nahi hai... Kyun ki humaare rishte ki dor bohot mazboot hai... Our relation is too strong to be broken...!" Khushi assured him.

Now Arnav could sleep peacefully... He was now sure that Khushi would never leave him... She would be with him... forever...!!

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You might be thinking what was this 😆 Well, I don't really know why I wrote it but I just did... And so shared it here...

Eager to know what you have to say after reading it...

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Link to my Index of ArShi Stories

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