Arshi FF: The Broken Hearts#2 NEW LINK ADDED pg 153 - Page 37

Chapter 15

Sitting in the doctor's cabin, Arnav peered at the doctor before him who was studying Khushi's CT scan reports.
" do I know you?" What did she mean by that? Everything was going well, she was responding to the medicines, she was wide awake..then what happened? And why was this doctor taking so much time?
" I hope all is good." He wasn't asking the doctor, he was expecting him to say that so that he could calm his racing nerves.
The doctor placed the reports on the table and took out his specs before slowly shaking his head and in that moment Arnav stopped breathing.
" I have some bad news. Due to the head injury, Khushi is now suffering from amnesia."
Arnav didn't blink his eyes, instead he stared right back at the doctor, expecting him to elaborate.
" she has lost her memory. What happened before the accident, she seems to have forgotten everything. That's why she doesn't recognize you."
Arnav's jaw dropped and he looked at the doctor with a blank expression on his face. No, this couldn't be true.
" but you said that she was alright, then why this?" He was angry, shocked and frustrated all at the same time.
" we didn't expect her head injury to be so deep."
Arnav ran his hand through his hair. " now What?"
The doctor took a long pause before opening his mouth and that only added to Arnav's impatience.
" Mr. Raizada, there's no treatment for this, we'll have to wait for Khushi to regain her memory. "
" how long?"
" weeks, months and sometimes even years."
Arnav curled his fingers and flared his nostrils. This was insane. He couldn't sit and wait for things to happen, he had to do something.
" can't we make her remember what transpired in the past?"
The doctor showed him her report and circled an area of her brain.
" this part of her brain has been severely affected by the accident. If we pressurize her, strain her brain then the nerves around here might rupture and she might suffer brain hemorrhage." A sudden chill of fear ran down Arnav's spine. This was dangerous, they could lose Khushi forever.
Arnav gulped the knot of tension formed inside his throat.
" so what do you suggest?"
" any kind of mental stress can be extremely fatal for Khushi...in fact I would say even her husband's demise should not be told to her."
" but doctor how can I hide such a big thing from her? She's his wife, has a child from him, she has every right to know that he's dead!" Arnav argued.
" try and understand Mr. Raizada, she's lost her memory..this in itself is a big blow for her and on top of that if we tell her that in the same accident she lost her husband as well, with no family member coming forward to support her and she has a little girl to fend herself .. do you think she'll be able to handle ? "
Arnav rubbed his forehead, he had no idea how to go about from here.
" you're making me feel so helpless. Isn't there anything that I can do for her?"

The doctor shook his head. " she'll recover from her external injuries very soon but for this...you'll have to give her time...any kind of mental stress can be damaging for her."
Arnav held his head in his hands as the doctor left him alone to deal with the situation. What would he tell Khushi? How would he handle her? Before he came to know about her memory loss he had decided to bring her home for a few days till she fully recovered, though that in itself would have been extremely tough for him but he would have tried his best to convince Khushi to stay with him for some time but now..it was not a matter of few days, she needed him round the clock. God forbid if something happened to her or Sia, how would she manage on her own? She needed him and she needed him like never before!

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Khushi stared blankly at the white hospital wall in front of her as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. The doctor told her that she met with an accident and lost her memory. With time she would slowly remember everything...there was nothing to worry about.
Really, was there nothing to worry? Could she really afford to relax? Several unanswered questions were creating a storm inside her mind. She needed answers and she needed them desperately but who would give her?
Just then the door knocked and Arnav slowly came inside. He lifted his lashes to glance at Khushi who was looking at him with hope, expectations and lots of confusion in her eyes.
" I'm sorry, I don't seem to recognize you." Her voice shook as she said those words.
Arnav swallowed hard, he didn't know whether what he was going to do was right or wrong but at the moment it felt right. Even if it was a mistake, he would go ahead and make it, after all it wasn't the first mistake of his life.
After taking a deep breath, Arnav peered at Khushi and held her inquisitive gaze as he spoke. " I'm Arnav...and you work for me." ( one lie and there were more to follow.)
He moved his neck to glance at Sia who was sleeping in the crib. Khushi followed his gaze, yes she wanted to know who that baby was and why she here with her? Was she related to her?
" that's Sia and you're..her governess." ( the biggest lie, he hoped one day both Khushi and Sia would forgive him and even if they didn't, he wouldn't complain.)
Khushi's lips stretched slightly, Sia looked adorable as she slept. " she's your..."
" I'm going to adopt her very soon." ( another lie. Though he would love it if someday it turned true but he knew it would never happen...Khushi, Sia's mother would never let it happen.)
" and my family?" She asked hesitantly. She'd been awake for so long but except him, nobody came to see her.
The hope in her voice made his heart twist. He glanced at Sia from the corner of his eye. She had always been alone and today when she had a daughter he was forced to deprive her of that relation as well. But he had no other option, if he told her that she had a daughter then she'd ask about her husband...then what would he say, that her husband was no longer alive?
" Khushi, you lost your parents at a very young age..since then you have been on your own." There was no point in telling her about her uncle and aunt, they wouldn't turn up and take her responsibility.
Khushi's eyes dropped and a deep feeling of loneliness engulfed her heart. She was all alone in this world. Tears filled her eyes and the sight of them, ripped Arnav's heart. He so badly wished to pull her into his arms, stop the tears that were threatening to stream down her eyes and tell her that she wasn't alone...He was with her...but he couldn't!
" don't cry Khushi..you're a fighter..you've always been one."
Khushi looked up and drew her brows together. " how long have you known me?"
Arnav mentally kicked himself. He needed to be careful with his words. " not long enough...ever since I've hired you as Sia's governess..but I can say surviving alone in this world is not easy,"
" you're a strong woman Khushi, remember that."
For the first time she smiled when she peered at him. Was she really strong as he said? She didn't know why but she desired to believe his words.
Seeing that hint of smile on her face made Arnav feel so much better.
" you take rest, I'll see you in a while."
" Arnav ji!"
His heart jumped at the sound of it and his eyes turned wide. After years she was calling him like that and it had the same effect as it had the first time she'd addressed him as Arnav ji. He was surprised ...and delighted. In fact his ears and his heart ached to hear that from her.
And she, she too was having the same vulnerability and innocence in her eyes that she had years ago. For a moment it seemed that nothing had changed between them, that she remembered everything.
" I'll take utmost care of your daughter and I'm sorry for the trouble that I have caused."
The bubble of hope and happiness burst. She had forgotten Sia...and him.
Sia sneezed in her sleep. Arnav at once rushed to her side and covered her securely with the blanket. " its quite cold today."
Khushi pushed her own blanket. " you can give her this..I'm okay." Arnav smiled and shook his head. " no need. I'll arrange another one." Khushi would always remain selfless.
Arnav reached the door when he saw shyam's body being wheeled out. He had thought of performing his last rites and for that the ward boys were getting him shifted in an ambulance. Arnav turned around to watch Khushi. She was glancing out of the window as shyam was being taken away. Arnav observed her closely to catch any flicker in her eyes, any kind of reaction on her face on seeing shyam. But Khushi failed to recognize him as well. She simply turned her face to the other side and closed her eyes.

That was the last she saw of shyam, her husband!

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Later in the day after obtaining shyam's death certificate from the hospital, Arnav proceeded to cremate his body.
Khushi couldn't be taken to the cremation ground so it was just Arnav and Sia who performed his last rites. The priest recited the holy mantras as Arnav circled shyam's body that lay on a bed of woods. In one hand Arnav held Sia and in the other a clay pot of water on his shoulder. The priest hit the pot to make a hole, so that water flowed out of the hole as Arnav walked around the body.
Life was so unpredictable. All these years the thought of shyam hardly crossed his mind and today his lifeless body lay before him. Shyam was no longer his college foe, he was now Khushi's husband and father of her child. Had he ever thought that shyam would share such a deep relation with Khushi? Had he ever thought that one day he would be cremating shyam's body who he loathed so much? Was all this a punishment? If yes, then who was being punished, he or shyam?
Arnav exhaled deeply and glanced at Sia. The little one didn't know that her father was no more and she would never see him again.
Unaware of what was happening around her, Sia just coiled her tiny arms around Arnav's neck and placed her head on his shoulder. Seeing shyam before her didn't make her jump in Arnav's arm. She didn't wish to go to her father instead preferred to remain with this stranger.
As Arnav completed three rounds of circling shyam, he dropped the clay pot behind him. Then set the woods on fire. Stepping back he watched shyam's body getting burnt. Memories of their college fights flashed before his eyes. How much he hated the sight of shyam. And after today he would never see his face again. He would never cross his path..would never be a part of his life..it was end of shyam.
But how could he forget that in his absence, shyam had crossed Khushi's path, that he had and would always be an important part of Khushi's life! He might be dead but his presence would haunt and disturb Arnav for a long long time.

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Stretching his long legs, Arnav made himself comfortable on the couch in the waiting lounge, keeping an eye on Khushi's room as she and Sia slept with a nurse. The activities in the hospital had come down as most of the staff packed up and headed home.
Arnav lifted his arm and covered his eyes, making a futile attempt to sleep...sleep had long ago evaded his eyes and he couldn't recall when was the last time he slept long and sound. The days would involve in making money and the nights would go by in dealing with the emptiness that the same money brought with it.
He continued to keep himself engaged with his thoughts when his cellphone vibrated. Who could be at this hour? His lips stretched slightly when he read Anjali's name.
" yeah di."
" seems like my little brother is too busy to wish his sister New year."
Arnav scratched his forehead, it was new year and it had completely slipped out of his mind.
" sorry di, I was just...occupied with something. Moreover what's so happy about this new year?"
Anjali who was till now teasing Arnav, grew serious hearing his reply. " why chotte, what's wrong?"
" nothing di, all good." Arnav bit the inside of his cheek.
" you're hiding something from me? Where are you right now?" She could sense that Arnav was disturbed, so how could she let go without knowing the reason?
Arnav debated in his mind, to tell or not? The burden was so heavy that for once he decided to share it with his sister.
He told her about the accident.. Khushi..shyam and Sia.
Anjali quietly listened to him as she went through a myriad of emotions..shocked..confused..worried.
Shocked to know about Khushi, that she had married shyam, who was now not alive and had left her with a daughter and Khushi, had lost her memory.
She was confused over Arnav's decision of bringing back Khushi into his life, she didn't know how far it was right.
And most importantly she was worried about the future. What it held for both Arnav and Khushi!
" di, do you think I'm making one more mistake..am I cheating on Khushi?"
Anjali was at loss of words. The situation was so complicated that nothing seemed absolutely right or wrong. She knew her brother's intentions were noble but still how long would he lie to Khushi?
" chotte, do you still love her?" Her question caught him off guard. He loved Khushi, he loved her deeply but sadly that wasn't the issue.
" it's not about me, it's about Khushi. What's best for her. For once in my life, I wish to sideline my feelings and desires and think only about her,"
" my self centered attitude has let her down. I have broken her heart and she has suffered a lot because of me...I can't see her suffer again."
" so now you wish to correct your mistakes?"
Arnav let out a bitter smile. " what I have done can't be undone. My mistakes deserve punishment not forgiveness. I don't see this as an opportunity to redeem myself..like I said, it's not about me but her...I hope I don't wrong her again."

Anjali couldn't stop fretting about the future. What would happen when Khushi would regain her memory and what if she didn't?
" it won't be easy chotte especially when both of you would be staying under one roof . she'd be before your eyes all the time...However it can't be ignored that she needs you."
All this concern clearly showed that her brother still loved Khushi. Though he maybe sounding practical and thinking only about Khushi's welfare but could he really curb the love that was residing in his heart for her? Could he really keep his feelings aside and just be with her because he should be?
This was a matter of the heart and it couldn't be resolved without involving it.
Yesterday Arnav's selfishness had broken Khushi's heart and tomorrow his selflessness might break his heart.

Thanks for reading

Rose

p.s. next chapter is divided into 2 parts , will update the first one on tuesday and the second one on friday .